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REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON METHODS OF ORGANIZA- 
TION AND WORK ON THE PART OF STATE 
AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 



R&UBEN G. THWAITES, Chairman. 
BENJAMIN F. SHAMBAUGH. 
FRANKLIN L. RILEY. 



Reprinted from the Annual Report of the American Historical Association 
for the year 1905, Vol. I, pages 249-325. 



WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 

1906. 



r 



-^ 



XIIL— REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON METHODS OF ORGANIZATION AND 

WORK ON THE PART OF STATE AND LOCAL 

HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 



REUBEN G. THWAITES, Chairman. 
BENJAMIN F. SHAMBAUGH. 
FRANKLIN L. RILEY. 



249 



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in 2011 with fundi ngtrom 
The Library of Congress 



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REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON METHODS OF ORGANIZATION AND WORK ON 
THE PART OF STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 



At a meeting of the American Historical Association held in 
Chicago in December. 1904, Prof. Henry E. Bonrne, of Western 
Reserve University, chairman of the Association's general com- 
mittee, presented a report upon " The work of American historical 
societies." " This was based upon an inquiry conducted by him 
into the scope and work of the i^rincipal societies, and was an inter- 
esting and important preliminary survey of the field. As a result 
of the Bourne report, the council of the Association appointed the 
undersigned a subcommittee of the general committee, charged with 
reporting in detail at the 1905 meeting upon " The. best methods of 
organization and work on the part of State and local historical 
societies." 

STATISTICAL. ' = : ' 

The committee were convinced that they could not act intelligently 
without first making as thorough an investigation as possible of the 
resources, activities, and aims of the historical organizations, of the 
country. A blank was prepared for tliis purpose, following the gen- 
eral lines of the Bourne inquiry, but much more specific and widely 
circulated. This, with an accompanying letter, "was mailed early in 
February last to the secretaries of societies concerned^the -mailing 
list being compiled from the Bibliography of Historical Societies 
published by this Association in 1895, the Carnegie Institution's 
Handbook of Learned Societies, and other sources. Following is the 
text of letter and blank : 

February 1, 1905. 

The secretaries of societies receiving the accompanying list of queries will 
confer a favor by responding at their earliest convenience, as the memljers of 
the committee would like to have all the data before them at their first con- 
ference, to be held early in the spring. 

: The questions have been framed upon the basis of the State societies ; but 
secretaries of district or local societies can readily adapt them to their institu- 
tions. . . 

"Annual Report American Historical Association, 1904, pp. 117-127. 

251 



252 AMERICAN" HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION". 

Kindly mail reply to the member of the committee who S9nds out this circular, 
as each member is expected to report upon a certain district — Mr. Thwaites 
upon the Northern and Central Atlantic States and the old Northwest, Mr. 
Shambaugh upon the trans-Mississippi (save Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas), 
and Mr. Riley upon the South. 

In making replies, it will be a convenience to number them as per the num- 
bering of the queries. 

It is earnestly hoped that each and every active historical society in the 
United States will cordially co-operate with the committee in this matter, to the 
end that a i-eally adequate report may be rendered upon the work and status 
of these societies. The committee hope that beneficial results may follow the 
present investigation ; but this is not possible unless there be a full, frank, 
and general response to their circular of inquiry. 

Reuben G. Thwaites, 

' - BEN.JAMIN F. ShAMBAUGH, 

' Feanklin L. Riley, 
/ Committee 



American Historical Association, 

February 1, 1905. 

inquiry as to the organization, methods, and condition of state and local 

historical societies. 

Please reply promptly, and as fully as possible, to R. G. Thwaites, Madison, 
"Wis. ; B. F. Shambaugh. Iowa City, Iowa ; F. L. Riley, University, Miss. 

1. Name and location of your society. 

2. Date of establishment or organization thereof. 

3. Is it in any official sense aState institution, or entirely a private corpora- 
tion? Kindly state exact condition. 

4. "What are the sources and extent of support? 

a. Membership fees. 

b. State appropriations (annual and special). 

c. Private donations. 

d. Endowment fund. 

e. Present annual income from all sources'. 

5. "W^hat are your provisions for membership? 

a. Life. 

b. Annual. 

c. Corresponding. 

d. Honorary. 

6. How often do you hold meetings, and what is their general character? 

7. Have you a salaried staff? If so, please state number employed, what 
kind of work, and aggregate salaries paid. 

8. Has your society a building of its own? If so, please state cost and char- 
acter. If housed in a capitol or other public building, please state how much 
room is occupied. If renting rooms or building, please state extent thereof 
and rent paid. 

-9i- Please state your total expenditures per annum for all purposes. Clas- 
sify them, if practicable. 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 253 

10. Does your society maintain a library? 

a. Along what lines of collection. 

b. Present number of titles (books and pamphlets together). 

c. Is the library catalogued? If so, is it a card catalogue? On what 

system (D. C. or E. C.)?« Is it typewritten? 

11. Does your society maintain a museum or art collection? 

a. Scope and extent of museum. 

b. Extent of art collection, especially on the historical side. 

12. What is the extent and character of your manuscript collections? We 
should be pleased to have you describe these in as much detail as practicable. 

13. To what extent do you collect and preserve newspapers? 

14. Has your society, in any manner, the custody of the public archives of 
the State (or county or city) ? 

15. Does it outline and superintend special lines of I'esearch work in history? 
Please be as specific as possible. 

16. What is the extent of your anthropological and archaeological work? 

a. Field work. 

b. Collections (possibly covered in remarks on museum, above). 

17. Does your society offer public lectures? If so, their character and 
frequency. 

18. The publications of the society? 

a. Quarterly magazine. 

b. Annual Reports, Proceedings, Transactions, or Collections. 

c. Miscellaneous (regular or special). 

d. What is the general character and scope of your several publi- 

cations? 

19. Are there local historical societies in your State? 

a. Number and names of. 

b. Character and purposes of. 

c. Relation to the State society. 

d. Is there co-operation of any sort between societies in your State? 

20. Please refer us to (and if practicable, send us) the best published 
account of your society. 

21. Please send to us a copy of — 

a. Statute establishing your institution. 

b. Articles of incorporation. 

c. Constitution and by-laws, or rules and regulations. 

22. What are the present conditions and prospects of your society? Should 
like you to be as full and frank as possible. 

By agreement between the members, Mr. Riley undertook to secure 
and compile reports from the societies in the Southern States, Mr. 
Shambaugh from those of the trans-Mississippi (except Arkansas, 
Louisiana, and Texas), and Mr. Thwaites from those of the North- 
ern States east of the Mississippi. The committee held a two days'- 
session at Iowa City, Iowa, May 16-17, 1905, discussed the replies, 
and arrived at certain conclusions, which are presented below. 

The majority of the active organizations reported promptly; 
others required prodding; even to the present date a few have failed to 
respond to our continued requests. The net result was the receipt of a 

" Dewey classification, or Expansive Classification. 



254 AMEKICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

body of useful, although quite unequal, data from 18 national organ- 
izations (exclusive of our own) having more or less to do with his- 
torical work — 12 sectional, TO State (including departments and com- 
missions), and 123 local. While there are regrettable omissions, it 
may confidently be asserted that practically every important his- 
torical society or department in the United States is included in the 
detailed accounts given in the Appendix to the present report. 

, NATIONAL SOCIETIES, 

Of the national societies engaged in the collection and publication 
of historical material we have, for obvious reasons, made no note of 
our own organization. The most important of these societies in library 
and resources is the American Antiquarian Society. Its substantial 
building at Worcester, Mass., contains 120,000 volumes and a valuable 
collection of m-anuscripts, portraits, and antiques. The American 
Geographical Society, at New York, is housed in a $200,000 build- 
ing and possesses a library of 40,000 volumes. Other flourishing 
bodies are the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society, of 
New York; the Daughters of the American Revolution (with a large 
building in Washington, now in course of construction) ; and the 
Jewish Publication Society of America. 

SECTIONAL SOCIETIES. 

The list of sectional societies embraces many that are doing im- 
portant work. The wealthiest and most effective of these is the 
New England Historic Genealogical Society, of Boston, housed in a 
building worth $65,000 and having a library of 66,000 titles. It 
possesses also notable collections of manuscripts and a large museum 
of portraits, curios, and antiques. The Confederate Memorial Liter- 
ary Society, of Richmond, owns a museum and grounds valued at 
$60,000 and an interesting library of printed and manuscript ma- 
terial relating to the history of the South prior to the war of seces- 
sion. The Pacific Coast Branch of our Association, while as yet not 
engaged in collection or publication, has a promising future as the 
proposed medium of co-operation between the various historical or- 
ganizations on the Western coast. 

STATE SOCIETIES AND DEPARTMENTS. 

As a class the State societies and departments were the promptest 
and most business-like in their replies. Not all of the responses were 
satisfactory in character, but while there are serious gaps enough 
information was elicited to enable us to present a fairly complete 
survey of the situation. The following table has been prepared from 
data to be found in the Appendix : 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTOEICAL SOCIETIES. 



255 



State historical societies and departments. 



Institution. 



Alabama Conference His- 
torical Society, M. E. 
Church South, Mont- 
gomery. 

Alabama Department of 
Archives and History. 

Alabama Historical Soci- 
ety. 

Alaska District Historical 
Library and Museum. 

Arkansas Historical Asso- 
ciation. 

Arkansas History Com- 
mission. 

California Historical So- 
ciety. 

Colorado Historical Soci- 
ety. 

Connecticut Historical So- 
ciety. 

Delaware Historical Soci- 
ety. 

District of Columbia His- 
torical Society. 

Georgia Historical Society 

Illinois Historical Library 

Illinois Historical Society. 



German- American Histor- 
ical Society of Illinois. 

Indiana Historical Society 

Iowa Historical Depart- 
ment, Des Moines. 

Iowa Historical Society, 
Iowa City. 

Kansas Historical Society. 

Kentucky Historical Soci- 
ety. 



Louisiana Historical Asso- 
ciation. 

Lousiana Historical Soci- 
ety. 

Maine Historical Society.. 

Maryland Historical Soci- 
ety. 

Maryland, Society for His- 
tory of Germans in. 

Massachusetts Historical 
Society. 

Massachusetts Military 
Historical Society. 

Bay State Historical 
League. 



Michigan Pioneer and His- 
torical Society. 

Minnesota Historical Soci- 
ety. 

Mississippi Department of 
Archives and History. 

Mississippi Baptist His- 
torical Society. 

Mississippi Historical So- 
ciety. 

Mississippi Methodist His- 
torical Society. 

Missouri Historical Soci- 
ety, St. Louis. 

Missouri State Historical 
Society, Columbia. 

Montana Historical and 
Miscellaneous Library. 



Or- 
gan- 
ized. 



1905 

1901 
1850 
1900 

1903 
1905 



1864 

1894 

1839 
1889 
1899 

1900 



Num- 
ber of 
mem- 
bers. 



1892 
1857 



1875 
1839 



1822 
1844 



1791 

1871 
1903 

1874 
1849 
1903 



1903 

1886 
1899 
1864 



5 
151 



150 
278 
100 



400 



120 
196 



50 

172 
200 



100 
150 



355 



Value of 
building. 



andpam-' Annual 
'phleteTn State appro- 
library Priations 



300 



Capitol - 



Joint library 
building. 



830,000.. 
Capitol. 



Capitol. 
§400,000- 



State Univer- 
sity. 

Capitol-- 

do 



Confederate 
Memorial 
Hall. 



$30,000. 
§60,000- 



§225,000- 



Capitol. 

do.. 

Capitol. 



600 , §40,000. 



30,000 
28,000 
30,000 

a Merged with State library. 



State Uni- 

versity. 
Capitol 



2,444 

19,000 

30,000 

2,500 

2,000 

26,000 
16,000 



380 

2,000 
14, 182 

40,000 

119,600 



8,000 



2,500 

47,117 

500 
155,000 

7.000 



(a) 
81,768 



§2,500 
1,000 



1,250 



5,700 

1,000 

300 



Other income and 
remarks. 



3,500 



Occasional. 
10,000 

7,500 

7,620 



Membership. 



Do. 

§720; Congression- 
al appropria- 
tion. 

§125. 



§500. 

Membership; 
special funds. 
§400 and member- 
ship. 
§500. 

§900. 

§2,000. 

Membership; con- 
trols State His- 
torical Library. 

§1,500. 

Membership. 



1,600 



2,000 



2,000 
20,000 
5,600 



1,000 



2,500 



Do, 

Do. 

Membership ; 
State furnishes 
printing, post- 
age, and sta- 
tionery. 

Membership. 



§500. 

Membership. 
§2,500 and endow- 
ments. 

§425. 

Invested funds, 
§221,000; income, 
§48,000. 

§1,800. 

Co-operation be- 
tween local so- 
cieties in Mid- 
dlesex and Es- 
sex counties. 

Membership. 

Do. 



Do. 
$1,000. 
Membership. 

§3,000. 

Membership. 

Department of 
State Library. 



256 



AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIOlSr, 



State historical societies and departments — Continued. 



iBStitution. 



Or- 
gan- 
ized. 



Num 
ber of 
mem 
bers. 



Value of 
building. 



Books 
and pam- 
phlets in 
library- 



Annual 
State appro- 
priations. 



Other income and 
remarks. 



Nebraska Historical Soci- 
ety. 

New Hampshire Genea- 
logical Society. 

New Hampshire Histor- 
ical Society. 

New Jersey Historical So- 
ciety. 

New Mexico , Historical 
Society. 

New York Genealogical 
and Biographical So- 
ciety. 

New York State Histor- 
ical Association, Lake 
George. 

New York, Society of Co- 
lonial Wai's in. 

Pennsylvania Society, 
New York. 

North Carolina Literary 
and Historical Associa- 
tion, Raleigh. 

North Carolina Historical 
Society, Chapel Hill. 

North Dakota Historical 
Society. 

Ohio Archaeological and 
Historical Society, Co- 
lumbus. 

Ohio Historical and Philo- 
sophical Society, Cin- 
cinnati. 

Oklahoma Historical Soci- 
ety. 

Oregon Historical Society. 

Pennsylvania Histori c a 1 
Society. 

Pennsylvania Federation 
of Historical Societies, 
Heilmandale. 

Pennsylvania History 
Club, Philadelphia. 

Pennsylvania German So- 
ciety, Lebanon. 

Rhode Island Historical 
Society. 

Rhode Island Soldiers and 
Sailors' Historical Soci- 
ety. 



South Carolina Historical 

Society. 
South Carolina, Huguenot 

Society of. 
South Dakota Historical 

Society. 



Tennessee Historical So- 
ciety. 
Texas Historical Society.. 



Vermont Antiquarian So- 
ciety. 

Virginia Historical Soci- 
ety. 

Washington Historical 
Society, Tacoma. 

Washington University 
Historical Society, Se- 
attle. 

Wisconsin Archaeological 
Society, Milwaukee. 

Wisconsin Historical So- 
ciety. 



1878 
1903 
1823 

1845 



State Uni- 
versity. 
Capitol 



$10,000. 



25,000 

1,000 

93,500 

50,000 



$5,000 



Govern o r ' s 



500 
3,500 

800 



1899 



1899 
1900 

1833 
1895 

1885 

1831 
1893 



1905 

1905 
1891 
1822 

1875 

1855 
1885 
1901 

1849 
1892 

1897 
1831 
1891 
1903 

1903 
1849 



1,034 
800 



1,600 



42 



500 
600 



500 



3,000 



State Uni- 
versity. 
Capitol 



State Uni- 
versity. 



Public Li- 
brary. 

Portland 
City Hall. 

$300,000 



2,000 
5,000 

84,000 

2,000 

7,000 

315,000 



1,250 
8,000 



2,000 
7,500 



$20,000. 



60,000 



1,500 



3,000 



Capitol - 



3. .500 



.do. 



6,000 



State Uni- 
versity. 



3-story _ _ _ 
City Hall- 



State Uni- 
versity. 



10,500 



1,000 



$610,000. 



280,000 



32,000 



Membership. 

Do. 

Membership and 
endowment. 

$3,000. 



Membership. 



Membership. 

Do. 
$150. 

Membership. 
Do. 
Do. 

Do. 

Do. 

$1,650. 

Endowment 
funds of $170,- 
000. 

General coopera- 
tion. 

Composed of his- 
torical writers. 
$1,600. 

Membership. 

Membership; li- 
brary and cabi- 
ne t given to 
Providence 
PublicLibrary, 



Membership; ad- 
ministers State 
Department of 
History. 



$1,000; library 
merged in State 
University Li- 
brary. 



$4,300. 
Membership. 

$500. 

$1,000. 

Endowment 
funds, $53,000. 



EEPOET ON- STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 257 

It will be seen from the above table that 12 societies or departments' 
own their own halls — those valued at $100,000 or over being: Wis- 
consin, $610,000; Iowa Department, $400,000; Pennsylvania, $300,- 
000, and Massachusetts, $226,000. Thirteen are housed in their re- 
spective State capitols, seven are quartered in State universities, and 
six in other public buildings. The largest State appropriations are 
given to Wisconsin ($32,000), Minnesota ($20,000), and Iowa. 
($17,500).'^ The Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin so- 
cieties are, of course, the wealthiest in endowments, possessing, re- 
spectively, $221,000, $170,000, and $53,000 in invested funds. The 
largest libraries are : Pennsylvania, 315,000 titles ; Wisconsin, 280,000 ; 
Massachusetts, 155,000 ; Kansas, 119,600 ; and New Hampshire, 93,500. 

The returns are incomplete. Nevertheless those given show that 
in the State historical libraries and departments of the United 
States thus far heard from in detail there are shelved 1,611,491 books 
and pamphlets. It is fair to surmise that if figures could be had from 
those not reporting there would be a total of nearly, if not quite, 
1,700,000. State appropriations reported exhibit a total of $141,620 
annually. Probably the total might reach $175,000 could the value 
of all State help be represented in the above table, for in numerous 
Western commonwealths there are additional perquisites of official 
printing, stationery, postage, expressage, janitorship, repairs, and 
miscellaneous supplies. The report on invested funds represents but 
three societies, having an aggregate of $444,000; but no doubt the 
facts, if obtainable, would reveal a total for the various States of 
upward of $500,000. 

LOCAL SOCIETIES. 

Doubtless many fairly active small societies are not upon our list. 
We have reason to believe, however, that nearly all engaged in pub- 
lication or having libraries or museums are represented. Following 
is a tabular summary, the reader being referred to the Appendix 
for further details. 

" This includes both the State Historical Society at Iowa City and the Historical De- 
partment at Des Moines. 

H. Doc. 923, 59-1 — -17 



258 



AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Local historical societies. 



Society. 



Or- 
gan- 
ized. 



Num- 
ber of 
mem- 
bers. 



Books 
and pam- 
phlets in 
library. 



Annual 
income. 



Remarks. 



ALABAMA. 

Iberville Historical Society, Mobile. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Historical Society of Southern Cali- 
fornia, Lo^ Angeles. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

Association of the Oldest Inhabit- 
ants, Washington. 
Columbia Historical Society 



1901 



1883 



1865 
1894 



18 



50 



300 



5,000 



CONNECTICUT. 



Bridgeport Scientific and Historical 
Society. 

New Haven Colony Historical So- 
ciety, New Haven. 



400 



FLORIDA. 



St. Augustine Institute of Science 
and Historical Society. 



Champaign County Historical So- 
ciety, Urbana. 
Chicago Historical Society 



1,500 
14,000 

300 



1899 
1855 



E vanston Historical Society _ 

McLean County Historical Society, 
Bloomington. 

Pioneer Association of "Will County. 

Quincy Historical Society 

Whiteside County Historical So- 
ciety, Sterling. 

INDIANA. 



Goshen Historical Society 

Grant County Historical Society, 
Marion. 

Hamilton County Historical Society, 
Noblesville. 

Newcastle Historical Society 

Northern Indiana Historical So- 
ciety, South Bend. 

Old Settlers and Historical Associa- 
tion of Lake County, Crown Point. 

Wayne County Historical Society, 
Richmond. 



100 
600 



100,000 



250 
300 



1903 



1900 



Decatur County Historical Society, 
Lamoni. 

Linn County Historical Society, Ce- 
dar Rapids. 

Madison County Historical Society, 
Winterset. 

Lucas County Historical Society, 
Chariton. 

KENTUCKY. 

Filson Club, Louisville 



1875 



1901 
1904 
1904 
1901 

1884 



200 



Eliot Historical Society. 
York Institute, Saco 



50 



260 
6,000 



MARYLAND. 

Harford County Historical Society 



1885 



$30-100 



300 



Fees. 
1,500 



Fees. 
3,500 



Fees. 



Pees. 



Pees. 

Pees. 
Pees. 
Pees. 



Fees. 



Fees. 
Pees. 
Pees. 

Pees. 
Pees. 
Pees. 
Pees. 

1,300 



Pees. 
1,030 



50 



Has $135,000 building. 



Building of five rooms. 



Invested funds, $96,000; has 

$185,000 building. 
In public library. 
In court-house. 

Chiefly social 

In chamber of commerce. 

In city hall. 



Chiefly social. 



In court-house. 



In public library. 
Do. 
Do. 



President R.- T. Durrett 
meets all expenses above 
income. 



Owns building. 



In court-house. 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 259 
Local historical societies — Continued. 



Society. 



MASSACHUSETTS. 



Bedford Historical Society 

Berkshire Historical and Scientific 

Society, Pittsiield. 

Beverly Historical Society — 

Bostonian Society _ — 

Brookline Historical Society _ _ _ . 

Cambridge Historical Society 

Cape Ann Scientific and Literary 

Association, Gloucester. 
Clinton Historical Society 



Connecticut Valley Historical 
ciety, Springfield. 

Dedham Historical Society 

Essex Institute, Salem 



So- 



Fitchburg Historical Society . 



Hyde Park Historical Society 

Ipswich Historical Society 

Lexington Historical Society 

Lowell Historical Society 

Maiden Historical Society ... 

Medfield Historical Society 

Medf ord Historical Society 

Methuen Historical Society 

Middlesex Historical Society 

Old Colony Historical Society, 

Taunton. 
Old South Historical Society, Bos- 
ton. 



Peabody Historical Society 

Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Asso- 
ciation, Deerfield. 

Rehoboth Antiquarian Society 

Sharon Historical Society 

Shepard Historical Society, Cam- 
bridge. 
Somerville Historical Society 



South Natick Historical, Natural 

History, and Library Society. 
Topsfield Historical Society 



Watertown Historical Society 

Westborough Historical Society 

Rumford Historical Association, 

Woburn. 
Worcester Society of Antiquity 



MICHIGAN. 

Oakland County Pioneer Society, 
Pontiac. 

MISSOURI. 

Kansas City Early Settlers' and 
Historical Association. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Manchester Historic Association 

NEW .JERSEY. 

Bergen County Historical Society, 
Hackensack. 

Gloucester County Historical So- 
ciety, Woodbury. 

Hunterdon County Historical So- 
ciety, Plemington. 

Loyalist Association, New Bruns- 
wick. 

Monmouth County Historical So- 
ciety. 

New Brunswick Historical Club 



Or- 



Nura- 

berof 

g^^- mem- 
^^^"- bers. 



1905 
1875 



1903 



1876 



1821 

1892 

1887 
1890 



1902 

1887 
1891 
1896 
1895 



1853 
1891 



1884 
1903 



1897 

1870 

1894 

1891 
1889 
1877 

1875 



1896 



1870 



1,100 
150 
200 



670 



44 



Books 
and pam- 
phlets in 
library. 



2,000 



1,000 

11,000 
400,000 

3,500 

2,000 



175 
900 
150 



2,000 



,000 



2,000 
15,000 



700 
500 



1,500 
1,500 

90,000 



200 



500 



Annual 
income. 



Fees. 
Fees. 

Fees. 
S4,000 
Fees. 
Fees. 
Fees. 

Fees. 



Fees. 

Fees. 
15,000 

Fees. 

Fees. 
Fees. 
Pees. 
Fees. 
Pees. 
Pees. 
Pees. 
Fees. 
Pees. 
Fees. 



Fees. 
Pees. 

300 
Fees. 
Pees. 

320 



200 



Pees. 
Pees. 

1,200 



Pees. 



Fees. 



Fees. 



Remarks. 



In public library. 
Library merged with 

Berkshire AthenEeum. 
Has §6,000 building. 



Has $12,000 building. 

Owns building; endow- 
ment promised; seeks to 
supplement public li- 
brary. 



Has 815,000 building. 

Has §75,000 building; in- 
vested funds, S200,(X)0. 

Levies assessments and re- 
ceives gifts. 

Owns colonial building. 

Do. 
In public library. 



Has S't,500 building. 
Occupies old mansion. 

Has 815,000 building. 

Terms of membership, 
competition for Old 
South prizes. 

Has 835,000 building. 

Has 814,000 building. 

In town hall. 

Devoted to history of First 

Church (1636); 
Rents a Revolutionary 

house. 

Soon to occupy colonial 

house. 
Building in prospect. 

Occupies old manse; en- 
dowment fund, 82,200. 
Has 850,000 building. 



Social ; no fees. 



Co-operates with public li- 
brary. 



260 



AMEEICAlSr HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATIOISr. 
Local historical societies — Continued.. 



Society. 


Or- 
gan- 
ized. 


Num- 
ber of 
mem- 
bers. 


Books 
and pam- 
phlets in 
library. 


Annual 
income. 


Remarks. 


NEW -JERSEY— continued. 
New England Society of Orange 


1870 
1877 




3,000 


Pees. 


Moribund. 


Paterson. 










ical Society, Pilesgrove. 
Revolutionary Memorial Society, 

Somerville. ' 
Rnclry TTill Memorial Rnciety 
























1884 






Fees. 




Salem. 

Surveyors' Association of West Jer- 
sey, Camden. 

Sussex County Historical Society, 


















Newton. 
Vineland Historical and Antiqua- 
rian Society. 

NEW YORK. 

Albany Institute and Historical and 
Art Society. _ 


1864 

1863 

1898 
1885 
1886 
1892 
1877 

1804 
1883 


500 


9,300 

8,000 
16,000 


Fees. 
Fees. 


Owns building. 

Has ^0,000 building. 

Has S2OO,O0O building; mu- 


City History Club, New York 


Fees. 
Pees. 
Fees. 
Fees. 
Fees. 

$9, 795 

13,800, 
Fees. 

Fees. 

Fees. 

Fees. 
Fees. 
Fees. 

40 

Fees. 
Fees. 
Fees. 
Fees. 
1,500 


nicipal aid, S'5,000 and in- 
cidental expenses: cus- 
todian, of Lord library, 
11,000 volumes. 


Holland Society of New York 


840 






Jefferson County Historical Society 




In Flower Library. 


Johnstown Historical Society 

Livingston County Historical So- 




250 


In Board of Trade. 
Marks historic sites. 


ciety, Geneseo. 
Long Island Historical Society, 
Brooklyn. 

New York Historical Society 


692 

1,057 
116 
353 

800 


72,130 


Owns building; holds no 
meetings; works in set- 
tlements and missions. 

Endowmentf unds, §236,000; 


Newburgh Bay and Highlands His- 
torical Society. 
Oneida Historical Society, Utica 


1,500 
2,000 

3,000 
2,000 


has §400,000 building. 
Has $60,000 budding. 


Onondaga Historical Association, 

Syracuse. 
Pennsylvania Society, New York... 
Rochester Historical Society _ . . . _ _ 


1863 
1899 


Has §35,000 building. 


Schoharie County Historical Soci- 


1889 
1893 

1890 
1897 

1874 
1867 

1869 

1880 

1893 

1900 
1869 

1895 

1890 




Occupies"01d StoneFort." 


ety, Schoharie. 

NORTH CAROLINA. 

Trinity College Historical Society, 






Collections in college li- 


Durham. 

OHIO. 

Clark County Historical Society, 

Springiield. 
Muskingum County Pioneer and 


85 


100 


brary. 

County furnishes §30,000 

building, with janitor. 
County court-house. 


Historical Society, Zanesville. 

"Old Northwest" Genealogical So- 
ciety, Columbus. 

Sandusky County Pioneer and His- 




2,150 


In public library. 


torical Society,. Fremont. 
Western Reserve Historical Society, 
Cleveland. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Berks County Historical Society, 

Reading. 
Bucks County Historical Society, 

Doylestown. 
Chester County Historical Society, 


600 


60,000 

475 
800 


Has §55,000 building. 
Has $3,500 building. 


Irregu- 
lar. 
Fees. 

Fees. 
Fees. 


Has §35,000 building. 


West Chester. 
City History Society, Philadelphia.. 
Dauphin County Historical Society, 

Harrisburg. 


350 


'"""2,'"466" 


To study city's histoi-y. 
In court-house. 


ety, Media. 
Fayette County Historical and Gen- 






Fees. 


Room in court-house. 


ealogical Society, Uniontown. 









I 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 261 
Local liistorical societies — Continued.. 



Society. 


Or- 
gan- 
ized. 


Num- 
ber of 
mem- 
bers. 


Books 
and pam- 
phlets in 
library. 


Annual 
incoiae. 


Remarks. 


PENNSYLVANIA— continued. 
Germantown Site and Relic Society - 


1901 






Fees. 

Fees. 
Fees. 

Fees'. 

Fees. 

Fees. 

Fees. 


Occupies historic school- 
house. 


45 




Lackawanna Institute of History 
and Science, Scranton. 

Lancaster County Historical Soci- 
ety, Lancaster. 

Lebanon County Historical Society, 
Lebanon. 

Linn County Historical Society, 
Bellefonte. 

Montgomery County Historical So- 
ciety, Norristown. 

Philadelphia Numismatic and An- 
tiquarian Society. 

Snyder County Historical Society, 
Middleburg. 

Susquehanna County Historical So- 
ciety, Montrose. 

Washington County Historical So- 
ciety, Washington. 

Wyoming Historical and Geological 
Society, Wilkes-Barre. 

York County Historical Society, 
York. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 

New England Society, Charleston . . 


1886 
1896 
1898 
1903 

1881 

1858 
1899 
1890 
1901 

1858 

1819 

1869 
1890 

1876 

1899 
1906 




Books in Green Ridge Li- 
brary. 
In Y. M. C. A. Building. 




1,800 
1,000 




1,000 


Has $5,500 building; county 
appropriates $200 annu- 
ally. 






Fees. 

Fees. 

$117 

2,300 
Fees, 

Fees. 

400 

S u b - 
scrip- 
tions. 

400 

Fees. 

Fees. 
Fees. 

Fees. 


Room in court-house. 






$20,000 building and $30,000 
library fund in sig'ht. 

In county coui't-house; 
gets occasional aid from 
county commissioners. 

Has free use of building, 
with running expenses 
paid; endowment funds, 
$23,000. 

Invested funds, $30,000; en- 


216 
330 

280 


2,500 
18,000 

3,000 


TENNESSEE. 

Confederate Historical Association, 


210 




courages study of New 
England history. 


Memphis. 
Washington County Historical So- 




In court-house; no fees. 


ciety, Jonesboro. 

VERMONT. 

Bennington Battle Monument and 


300 

114 
19 






Historical Society. 

WISCONSIN. 

Green Bay Historical Society 

Manitowoc Historical Association .. 
Milwaukee County Pioneer Asso- 




In public library; auxil- 
iary of State society. 
Do. 
Chiefly social. 


ciation, Milwaukee. 
Old Settlers' Club, Milwaukee 

Parkman Club, Milwaukee 


1869 

1895 

1899 

1905 

1903 
1904 


9 

17 

35 

68 
23 


300 
150 


Income, $2,000; chiefly so- 
cial. 

Members pay cost of pub- 
lication. 

In public library; auxil- 
iary of State society. 
Do. 


Ripon Historical Society _ 


Fees. 

Pees. 

Fees. 
Fees. 


Sauk County Historical Society, 




Baraboo. 
Superior Historical Society 




Do. 


Walworth County Historical Soci- 
ety, Elkhorn. 




Do. 



As might be expected, the returns from the local organizations are 
even more unequal and scattering than in the case of the State 
societies and departments. Yet even from this incomplete table, 
showing numerous gaps, we have an aggregate of 885,133 books and 
pamphlets in the several reporting libraries, and an annual income 



262 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

of $93,372. We may safely conclude that nearly every society of 
importance is here rej^resented by at least partial statistics; with all 
figures in, we doubtless should find a total of upward of a million 
books and pamphlets; were it possible to give the total of all mem- 
bership fees and miscellaneous cash gifts devoted to the conduct of 
this class of societies, it is quite within the region of possibility that 
$200,000 are annually contributed in the United States for their 
support. 

Some of the local societies are institutions of considerable im- 
portance. The Essex Institute, of Salem, Mass., with its income of 
$15,000, library of -1:00,000 titles, and building valued at $75,000, 
easily takes rank with the State societies. So also the New York 
(city) Historical Society, with 1,057 members, endowment fund ag- 
gregating $236,000, yearly income of $12,800, and a building costing 
$400,000; the Chicago Historical Society, with a library of 100,000 
titles, housed in a $185,000 building, and supported by endowment 
funds aggregating $96,000; the Long Island Historical Society, of 
Brooklyn, Avith 72,000 titles in its own building; the Western Ke- 
serve, of Cleveland, with 60,000 titles in a $55,000 building; the Wor- 
cester (Mass.) Society of Antiquities, housing 90,000 titles within a 
building valued at $50,000 ; and the Buffalo Historical Society, which 
dwells in a $200,000 building, has a library of 16,000 titles, and re- 
ceives a municipal grant of $5,000 and incidental ex^^enses per an- 
num (the only instance of this sort that has come under our notice). 

Many of those owning, much smaller libraries and museums, quar- 
tered in less costly houses, are also institutions w^ielding a wide in- 
fluence in historical study. It is interesting to note the considerable 
number finding lodgment in public library buildings, a significant 
connection promising Avell for both organizations. In several of the 
Eastern States, notably in Massachusetts, where nearly everj^ town 
possessses an historical society as well- as a public library, the former 
frequently owns or rents some historic building, generally a colonial 
farmhouse which, often with excellent taste, has been converted into 
a public museum. This is an example well worth following by other 
local societies. In the South and the Middle West are mau}^ com- 
munities with historic structures that might still be preserved for a 
like purpose. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Each historical society is in large measure the product of local 
conditions and opportunities. But back of these, molding conditions 
and taking advantage of opportunities, are needed individuals imbued 
with genuine and self-sacrificing enthusiasm for the work. However, 
enthusiasm will not alone suffice, for the promoters of such enter- 
prises should by their erudition and technical skill command the 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 263 

attention and respect of scholars, ^Yhile by display of practical com- 
mon sense, business ability, energy, and convincing arguments they 
are at the same time winning the confidence of hard-headed men of 
affairs. Ver}^ likely this is an unusual combination of qualities, and 
an ideal seldom, if ever, realized, for historical societies can not pay 
large salaries. Certain it is, however, that even when liberally en- 
dowed no society has attained its full measure of usefulness without 
some such personality dominating its affairs. Institutions dependent 
upon State aid are peculiarly in need of this vigorous personal man- 
agement. The lack of it has been the undoing of a goodly share of 
the wrecked or moribund societies — wherein everybody's business was 
nobody's concern — that strew the pathway of our recent investigation. 

The Massachusetts and Pennsylvania societies are , prototypes of 
the privately endowed organizations of the Eastern States, which 
without official patronage have attained strength, dignity, and a 
high degree of usefulness; while Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and 
Kansas similarly stand for the State supported institutions of the 
West. 

Of recent years there has appeared in several Commonwealths the 
" State Department of Archives and Histor}^" This is an official 
bureau of the Commonwealth, obtaining the essential personal touch 
through maintenance of close relations with the State historical 
society, whose duties, under such conditions, are chiefly literary and 
advisory. Alabama and Mississippi are the typical examples; but in 
Iowa the State society, at the seat of the State university, retains a 
strong individuality in all lines of activity despite the existence of 
a liberally supported historical department at the capital; in Kan- 
sas, the society has charge of the department. 

As to which method is best for new Commonwealths — that of the 
Alabama type, that of the Wisconsin, that of the Iowa compromise, 
or that of the Kansas union — your committee will not venture an 
0|;inion. Each has certain merits, largely dependent on conditions 
of environment. 

When subsidized as the trustee of the State, the society has the 
advantage of official connection and support combined with, a strong 
effective personal interest among its widely distributed membership. 
But there is an ever-present danger of a display of political jealousy, 
because a quasi-private organization is awarded even the officially 
guarded expenditure of ])ublic funds, and legislative interference is 
always possible. 

While it lacks the inspiration of personal backing, the depart- 
ment (or, in some States, commission) stands closer to the machinery 
of government, and although, under careful laws, removed from 
liability to partisan control, it is not likely in the course of its work 
to arouse official jealousy. The greatest danger to this method lies 



264 AMERICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

in the possibility that the performance of its T^'ork may in time be- 
come i3erfnnctorv, when the public-spirited founders of the depart- 
ment have retired from service.'' 

After all, the principal desideratum is, as we have indicated, the 
personality back of the work, rather than the form of organization. 
It would be unwise, even if possible, to attempt the making- over of 
men or of methods that in their respective environments either 
23romise or have already attained satisfactory results. What is 
needed, rather, is the betterment of existing methods, and especially 
the enlisting in the service of well-trained and vigorous executive 
officers. 

Inspired, doubtless, bj^ the example of the Wisconsin society, which 
is in close, although not official, connection Avith the University of 
Wisconsin, there has recently been a strong tendency on the part of 
Western and Southern historical organizations to associate themselves 
with their State universities. At the university town, of all com- 
munities in the State, exists a body of scholars who can most profit- 
ably utilize the collections of the historical society. The scholars 
need the inspiration of persistent, intelligent collection and i^ublica- 
tion; the society managers need the academic atmosi^here and aca- 
demic counsel in and with which to broaden and solidify their work, 
while the historical library finds its excuse in the largest ix)ssi- 
ble circle of users. Recognition of these facts has, wdierever possi- 
ble, led to a closer union between society and university; but in 
several States, as in Missouri and AVashington, where union with ex- 
isting agencies seemed impracticable to the universities, the latter 
have secured the organization of rival State societies at their own 
seats. Such an arrangement, while doubtless benefitting the univer- 
sities, is apt to result in divided interest and appropriations. In 
several Western States difficulties of this character present problems 
that maj'^ be many years in the solution. 

SCOPE AND PURPOSE. 

Some historical organizations are founded for a single, well-defined 
purpose — such as the Society for the History of the Germans in 
Maryland, the City History Club of New York, and the Germantown 
Site and Relic Society. These, of course, find no difficulty in deter- 
mining their functions. But some of the more general societies, espe- 
cially in the newer States, api^ear to be confused in this respect, and 
queries are frequently raised as to their proper scope. 

In our judgment, an historical society, be it sectional. State, or 
local, should collect all manner of archaeological, anthropological, his- 

" See R. G. Thwaites, " State Supported Historical Societies aud tlieir Functions," 
in Annual Report Amer. Hist. Assoc, 1897, pp. 01-71. 



EEPOET ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTOEIGAL SOCIETIES. 265 

torical, and genealogical material bearing upon the particular terri- 
tory which that society seeks to represent. The problem would be 
simplified were the ideal recognized that, wherever practicable, there 
should in each State be some one place where all manner of historical 
data relative to the Commonwealth at large may be placed for pres- 
ervation and consultation, and in each community or county a similar 
treasure house for its purely local records and relics. 

It would be superfluous in the present report, which is not intended 
as an elementary treatise, to set forth in detail the lines of work along 
which a local historical societj^ may profitably employ itself. But 
we venture to make these general suggestions: Such an institution 
may properly make an accurate survey of the archaeology and eth- 
nology of its district, not only itself acquiring a collection illustrat- 
ing the same, but entering into fraternal relations with neighboring 
collectors, private and public, and perhaps publishing a co-operative 
check list. The records of the county government (or of the town, 
the village, or the city), of the courts, the churches, and the schools 
should at least be listed if they can not actually be procured. Diaries 
of original settlers, mercantile account books, anniversary sermons, 
private letters describing early life and manners, field books of sur- 
veyors, etc., are valuable manuscripts worthy of systematic collection. 
Local newspaper files are an important source of information, and 
should assiduously be collected and preserved. Pioneers should be 
" interviewed " by persons themselves conversant with the details of 
local history. All manner of miscellaneous local printed matter 
should be secured — such as society, church, and club yearbooks, pro- 
grammes of local entertainments, catalogues and memorabilia of edu- 
cational or other public and private institutions within the prescribed 
field of research. Nothing of this sort comes amiss to the historical 
student." 

Collections are naturally classified into libraries, museums, and j)or- 
trait galleries. Within the library are properl}^ deposited all manner 
of manuscripts, books, pamphlets, leaflets, broadsides, newspaper files, 
etc. They should be scientifically catalogued, so far as funds will 
allow, the manuscripts being, if possible, calendared, or in any event 
indexed ; the least that can be expected is, that manuscripts be prop- 
erly listed on standard catalogue cards. In the museum and gallery 
there should be deposited all portraits or relics bearing on manners, 
early life, or personnel of the community or region. In many com- 
munities, where there is no other agency for that purpose, it will be 
found desirable also to make collections of specimens illustrating the 

" Consult the following BuUetins of Information, issued by the Wisconsin Historical 
Society : No. 12, " Suggestions to Local Historians in Wisconsin ; " No. 25, " The Gath- 
ering of Local History Material by Public Libraries ; " No. 9, " How Local History 
Material is Preserved." 



266 AMERICAlsr HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

geology, fauna, and flora of the district, thus making the museum the 
center of interest to neighboring students of the natural sciences as 
well as of ethnology, archaeology, and history. Public museums are 
frequently presented with embarrassing gifts ; but tact and diplomacy 
can usually be depended on for their eventual elimination. Perhaps in 
no department of a society's work are common sense and the trained 
judgment of the professed historical worker more frequently needed 
than in the conduct of the museum. This is one of the most valuable 
features of collection when properly selected and administered; but, 
unfortunately, too many of our American societies are the victims of 
undiscriminating antiquarianism — collection for collection's sake, 
without method or definite notion as to the actual scholarly value of 
the relic. Nothing is more deadly in historical work than unmeaning 
museums of " popular attractions." 

In several of our States the archives of the Commonwealth are, 
when ceasing to be of immediate value in the administrative offices — 
" dead documents," they have somewhat inappropriately been 
termed — committed to the care of the State historical society or de- 
partment of history. While eminently desirable, this disposition is, 
for various reasons, not immediately possible of attainment in every 
State. The State society or department may, however, properly 
interest itself in seeing that the archives are conveniently located and 
carefully preserved by public officials and, where practicable, offer 
expert advice as to their proper administration. 

METHODS OF DISSEMINATION. 

The gathering of material is of basic importance, but much greater 
skill is required adequately to disseminate that material. So far as 
practicable this should be printed, in order to secure the widest 
possible publicity and consequent usefulness. 

The publications of historical societies may contain both the 
original material, or " sources," and the finished product, in the form 
of monographs, essays, or addresses. State societies should certainlj^ 
include in their publications everything of value to students to be 
, found in the archives of the Commonwealth; local organizations may 
with equal profit search their several county and municipal records, 
for all data of historical importance. Bibliographies and check lists] 
of publications relative to State and local history are also desirable. 

These publications should be well and attractively printed on] 
good paper, and as skillfully edited as possible.*^ So far as the canons| 
of scholarship will allow, they should be capable of popular iinder- 

" See " Suggestions for the printing of documents relating to American History," ■ 
leaflet issued by American Historical Association, 1906, for the guidance of transcribers ^ 
and editors, reprinted in present volume, pp. 45-48. 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 267 

standing and appreciation. The mass of publications by our Ameri- 
can societies is large, although by no means as extensive as it properly 
might be. Unfortunately neither the dictates of typographical taste 
nor of scholarship have alwaj^s been followed, so that we have upon 
our library shelves devoted to State and local annals much that is 
inaccurate as to matter, mechanically execrable, and in general slip- 
shod. It is high time that those historical societies sinning in this 
respect bestir themselves and inaugurate a more scientific treatment 
of their otherwise excellent material. We have come to the stage that 
competent editors are needed quite as much as indefatigable col- 
lectors. 

State or local bibliography is an important and much needed 
work that may well be undertaken by historical societies, each in 
its own class. The example of the Iowa society in inaugurating a 
monographic industrial history of that Commonwealth, and a reprint 
of important State papers, is worthy of emulation. Many local 
societies are, in our opinion, spending far too largely of their sub- 
stance in genealogical 23ublications. With numerous professed 
genealogical societies in the field, to say nothing of the patriotic 
hereclitar}'- chapters — too few of which, however, are publishing 
things worth while — the general historical organization may with 
more appropriateness devote itself chiefly to the abundant task of 
putting forth documentary material and monographs bearing upon 
its legitimate field. Any enterprising and skillfully conducted society 
once entering upon publication will find the possibilities in this 
direction practically endless. 

The methods of distribution of publications should be carefully 
considered. It is important that material deemed worth}^ of per- 
manent preservation in printed form should be placed where it will 
be of the greatest possible utility to scholars. In our opinion, the 
Library of Congress should, as the national library, be an early re- 
cipient of all such publications. Next, the largest and most fre- 
quented reference libraries throughout the United States should be 
selected as natural repositories, whether the publishing society is or 
is not in regular exchange therewith; exchange arrangements should, 
so far as possible, be entered into with kindred societies throughout 
the State and country. Naturally, the memb?rs of the society and 
the jDublic libraries of the State and neighborhood will be upon the 
permanent mailing list. A societ}^ that does not thus disseminate 
its publications where they can do the most good, is in so far neglect- 
ing its duty to American historical scholarship — unless, as is occa- 
sionally the case, publication is dependent upon the sales of copies. 

The museum is also an important, although necessarily limited, 
means of presentation of material. With tasteful and carefulh^ 
phrased labels, varying exhibits of books and manuscripts, loan 



268 AMERICAISr HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

collections, lectures to teachers and pupils of the public schools, bib- 
liographical references, etc., much may here be clone to arouse and 
maintain public interest. 

INTERESTING THE PUBLIC. 

Indeed, this matter of arousing and maintaining jjublic interest is 
of itself an important function of an historical society ; but obviously 
this should be an intelligent, discriminating interest. Field meet- 
ings, popular lectures, work with the schools, some measure of co- 
ordination with pioneer and old settlers' societies of the district, 
pilgrimages to places of historic interest, the promotion of anni- 
versary celebrations, and the placing of tablets upon historic sites — 
all of these are within the province of the society. 

The enlistment of college and university interests is likewise highly 
desirable, especially in the matter of research and preparing material 
for publication; although in becoming academic, the society should 
be careful not to remove itself too far from the understanding and 
sympathy of the common people. Popularity and exact scholarship 
are not incompatible. One of the principal aims of an historical 
society should be the cultivation among the masses of that civic 
patriotism which is inevitably the outgrowth of an attractive pre- 
sentation of local history. 

Logically, there is no reason why the work of collecting and dis- 
seminating historical material should not be quite as much a public 
charge as that of the public library or of the public museum. But 
the fact that historical work appears to be best prosecuted by indi- 
vidual enthusiasm seems to render advisable the society organization. 
In many communities it is, as already intimated, difficult to convince 
legislative assemblies that a semi-private body should receive public 
aid. This objection is not insuperable, provided there are not, as 
in some States, likewise constitutional barriers. In the West ar- 
rangements have been entered into whereby the society, in accepting 
public aid, becomes the trustee of the Commonwealth, and its col- 
lections of State property; yet in no sense does the society thereby 
surrender its scholastic individuality. In Buffalo the local society 
bears much the same relationship to the municipality in return for 
the latter's annual stipend. Even under the most favorable polit- 
ical conditions, however, there is small chance for the historical soci- 
ety obtaining official aid unless its work is winning popular appre- 
ciation. 

CO-OPERATION. 

No historical society in the United States, State or local, is so 
powerful that it may not wax stronger by co-operation with its fel- 
lows. Small organizations need the advice, assistance, and inspira- 



EEPOET ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES, 269 

tion that come from consorting with larger and more experienced 
bodies; the latter will attain fresh vigor by coming into close touch 
with institutions nearer to the people. 

In Iowa and Wisconsin, co-operation is assured by making the local 
societies auxiliaries of the State organization. The latter publishes 
the annual reports of its auxiliaries and such of those papers pro- 
duced by members of the local bodies as have the stamp of excellence 
and are of more than local significance. At meetings of the State 
body the auxiliaries are officially represented, and frequent corre- 
spondence is encouraged between the parent society and its offspring; 
indeed, the local leaders are generally active members of the former. 

Massachusetts has inaugurated a Bay State Historical League, 
thus far composed of 21 local societies in Middlesex and Essex coun- 
ties. The organization was formed at Boston, April 3, 1903, its 
objects being defined as follows : 

(1) To encourage the formation of historical societies; (2) to encourage the 
existing historical societies in prosecution of historical study and the dissemina- 
tion of historical knowledge, in the institution and maintenance of historical 
memorials and anniversaries, the collection, preservation, and publication of 
historical material, and to bring such societies into a closer relation with one 
another; and (3) otherwise to promote historical interests. 

Annual meetings are held at historic points, with addresses by 
prominent persons, pilgrimages to memorable places, and informal 
conferences regarding common interests. It is hoped that by thus 
combining their forces the several societies in the league may stimu- 
late popular concern in the history of their region, while leaving 
each society free to work out its own problems. 

The Pennsylvania Federation of Historical Societies, organized at 
Ilarrisburg January 5, 1905, is of State-wide scope, but apparently 
confined to the local bodies. Its announced purpose is : 

(1) To organize historical activity in every part of the State and to foster 
it, and to foster that already organized; (2) to act as a federation bibliographer 
for its component societies; (3) at regular intervals, or periods, to bulletin the 
publications of its component societies, and to conduct an exchange of said 
bulletins. 

The State library is taking an active interest in the work, and thus 
far the expenses of the federation appear to have been made a matter 
of State charge. 

Upon the Pacific coast are several active State historical societies, 
notably those of Oregon and Washington. The Southwest Society 
of the Archaeological Institute of America, with headquarters at Los 
Angeles, is rapidly coming to the front, and promises soon to become 
an important factor in historical research in this interesting region, 
embracing Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southern California. 

The conference of historical societies of the Pacific coast conducted 



270 AMEBIC AN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

at Portland in the third week of August last, and participated in by- 
Messrs. Shambaugh and Thwaites, of j^our committee, and b_v Prof. 
E. G. Bourne, of the council, was a spirited gathering. But the dis- 
advantage arising from the great distances between the several cen- 
ters of far Western historical activity was strongly expressed, and ' 
the need of some central agency of co-operation emphasized, this 
being the keynote of the discussion. There was a general feeling of 
satisfaction when it was unanimously determined to utilize the 
Pacific Coast Branch of this association as such common medium. 
Herein lie large opportunities for the branch, and it is sincerely 
hoped that its managers may succeed in realizing the aspirations 
awakened in the several State societies by this proposed relationship. 

The four several attempts at co-operation above enumerated are 
typical and suggestive: (1) An attempt to co-ordinate the w^ork of a 
limited district within a State immensely rich in historical material 
and opportunities; (2) a federation of the local historical societies 
of an entire Commonwealth, independent of the State society; (3) 
a system whereby local societies are admitted as auxiliaries of the 
State organization ; and (4) a suggestion to effect co-operation 
throughout a wide belt of historically related Commonwealths by 
utilizing a sectional branch of the American Historical Association. 

Still another form of co-operation has, on motion of the Wisconsin 
society, recently been inaugurated in the region of the upper and 
central Mississippi Valley. That institution being about to publish 
a bulletin descriptive of its own manuscript collections, proposed to 
other libraries, societies, and private collectors in its neighborhood 
to append thereto similar descriptions of such of their manuscripts 
as bear upon American histor3^ Favorable responses Avere received 
from the Plistorical and Philosophical Society of Ohio (Cincinnati), 
the Old Northwest Genealogical Society (Columbus), Mr. C. M. 
Burton of Detroit, the Chicago Historical Society, the Chicago 
Public Library, the Newberry Library of Chicago, Mr. Edward E. 
Ayer of Chicago, the University of Illinois (Urbana), the Minne- 
sota Historical Society (St. Paul), the State Historical Society of 
Iowa (Iowa City), the Missouri Historical Society (St. Louis), the 
Mercantile Library of St. Louis, the State Historical Society of 
Missouri (Columbia), Mr. Louis Houck, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., 
and the Kansas Historical Society (Topeka). The publication of 
these lists of manuscripts under one cover and commonly indexed 
will, of course, prove helpful to students of American history by 
enabling them to ascertain the strength of nearly all the several 
collections in the upper Mississippi basin at the minimum expendi- 
ture of time and effort. 

It is hoped by the Wisconsin society that this bulletin may prove 
suggestive to other sections as an example of one form of j^ossible 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTOEICAL SOCIETIES. 271 

co-operation.<^ Similar co-operative bibliographies might well be 
compiled of jDortraits, broadsides, and other illustrative matter, and 
check lists be prepared of rare historical works, documentary col- 
lections, etc. The example set by the libraries of Boston, Washing- 
ton, and Chicago, in publishing combined lists of their periodicals, 
may well serve as a hint for the historical societies. 

The Librar}^ of Congress, acting in conjunction with the Carnegie 
Institution's Department of Historical Research, has now fairl}^ en- 
tered upon its great task of securing transcripts of all documents in 
European archives illustrative of American history. As soon as the 
material is available, it would be quite feasible for local societies in 
any State, or State societies in any section, to co-operate in the edit- 
ing and publication of so much thereof as was considered conunon to 
the history of the territory embraced in such federation. A union for 
the 23urchase or transcription of such other materials as did not come 
within the scope of the Washington undertaking might also be 
established. Even in limited sections, such as that served by the 
Bay State Historical League, a co-operative bureau would doubtless 
be found helpful, especially in plans for interesting the public. 

In the publication of documentary material, no doubt there has 
occasionally, in neighboring States, been more or less duplication. 
There have been instances of duplication between State and local 
societies within the same Commonwealth, arising from lack of agree- 
ment as to their respective fields. Co-operation would tend to mini- 
mize this difficulty; jet, in the case of State-supported societies, 
there are apt to be certain official barriers to perfect co-operation ; 
and it is open to question whether duplication has not some advan- 
tages, for the publications of one State are not as a rule obtainable 
gratis by students in another. It is, however, important that there 
should be some common understanding in these matters, in order 
that what is done shall be done intelligently and purposely. 

Indeed, it is in just such inter-society conferences as this that the 
most useful co-operation may be effected. Within States, no doubt 
organized federations like those of Pennsylvania and Massachusetts 
will best subserve the interests of all concerned and secure both 
continuity of united effort and proper differentiation; but between 
State societies it is possible that in most cases a hard-and-fast or- 
organization might prove less useful than temporary conventions to 
meet immediate and varying needs. 

" So long ago as 1897 the Wisconsin society published : I. S. Bradley, "Available 
Material for the Study of Institutional History of the Old Northwest," Wis. Hist. Soc. 
Proceedings, 1896, pp. 115-143. This consisted of a list of the statutes, session laws, 
legislative documents and .iournals, journals of constitutional conventions, and news- 
paper files of the Old Northwest Territory and of the States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, 
Michigan, and Wisconsin, published prior to 1851, to be found in public libraries within 
those States. 



272 AMEKICAlSr HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Another form of co-operative agreement is desirable between his- 
torical societies and public libraries working within the same field. 
As already noted, many local societies are quartered in the buildings 
of such libraries, the former being granted either a separate library 
and museum room or special alcoves in the book stack. Differentia- 
tion is thus easily arranged, and each institution can be and often is 
of great benefit to the other. But there are numerous instances 
where society and public library, sejDarately housed, are engaged in 
needless and costly duplication. In such cases some sort of under- 
standing should certainly be entered into. i 
, The relations between State historical societies and State libraries 
are likewise often quite lacking in definition. Differentiation is 
simple in those Western States, like Wisconsin, where the State 
society, acting as the trustee of the Commonwealth, conducts what 
is in effect the miscellaneous State library, the nominal State library 
being simply the law library of the supreme court. But this condi- 
tion obtains in but few Commonwealths; in others, agreements have 
yet to be perfected by which these two agencies of collection shall 
supplement each other rather than duplicate. 

A system of annual reports from local to State societies would be 
desirable, as in case of the auxiliaries in Iowa and Wisconsin. On 
the other hand, similar reports from State organizations to this 
Association, althoiigh not provided for in our charter, would surely 
tend to arouse more general interest in an undertaking in which all 
are deeply concerned. At present the work of the societies is too 
largely individual, and to that extent narrow. It sorely needs uni- 
f5dng, sectionally and nationally. Federated relationship, organized 
or unorganized, would, in our opinion, strengthen the hands of all, 
from the national body to that of the smallest historical society in 
the land. 

Until the " round table " conference at Chicago, in 1904, several 
of the most important of the State societies were quite unrepresented 
at the sessions of the American Historical Association. Very likely 
this has been the fault of the Association quite as much as theirs, 
for in our programmes scant attention has hitherto been paid to 
the serious problems confronting State and local societies — support, 
organization, scope, methods, and co-operation. The council of the 
Association has, however, at the present session (1905) wisely cre- 
ated a section devoted to these .matters, and its successive annual 
conferences will doubtless bear rich fruitage. 

Respectfully submitted, 

Reuben G. Thwaites, Chairman. 
Benjamin F. Shambaugh. 
Franklin L. Riley. 



EEPORT OISI STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 273 

APPENDIX. 

Data concerning the several national, sectional, State, and local 
historical organizations in the United States, snmmarized from infor- 
mation furnished by the respective bodies upon the blank gi^^en on 
pages 252, 253, ante, sent out in February, 1905. Twelve months later 
(January 24, 1906) typewritten copies of these paragraphs were 
mailed for correction to each organization originally reporting, replies 
being received from most of them. As here published, the para- 
graphs contain such corrections to date as were contained in these 
several responses. Where no reply was received, the paragraph 
stands as originally prepared from the data furnished in 1905. 

It will be noticed that the names of several local societies appear io 
the tabulated statement on pages 258-261, ante, for which no detailed 
paragraphs appear in the following list. These are organizations 
whose names were obtained by the committee from various sources, 
but from which no detailed reports could be obtained, despite per- 
sistent inquiries. 

National Societies. 

ArchcBological Institute of America. — Organized 1879. Income 
derived from membership dues and contributions from those inter- 
ested in archaeological research. Dues: life, $100; annual, $10. 
Fifteen affiliated societies in different centers of the United States, 
each of which chooses its own officers and has representation on the 
council of the institute. An annual meeting of the council lield each 
year. A general public meeting for discussion and papers held in 
December at different places. The affiliated societies receive one or 
more lectures each year. Lecturer serves without pay; traveling 
expenses borne by institute. Investigations are pursued in four 
fields — Greek, Roman, oriental, and American archaeology. Three 
schools are maintained : American School of Classical Studies at 
Athens, established 1881 (its chief explorations have been undertaken 
at Corinth) ; American School of Classical Studies in Rome, organ- 
ized in 1895, in which the institute maintains three fellowships; 
American School for Oriental Research in Palestine, founded in 
1900. In American archfeology the iDolicy is to co-operate with exist- 
ing agencies, supporting fellowships, and j^roviding means for spe- 
cial excavations. The institute has conducted explorations at Assos, 
in the Troad, and on the island of Crete; has directed the Wolfe 
expeditions to Babjdonia and to Asia Minor; has made investiga- 
tions in Mexico, New Mexico, and among the Indians of the South- 
western States. Publications: American Journal of ArclKPolor/y^ 
an illustrated quarterly ; Papers., Bulletins., and Reports., 7 volumes ; 
Investigations at Assos, etc. 
H. Doc. 923, 59-1- — 18 



274 ' AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION, 

American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass. — Founded in 
1812. American membership now fixed at 140; private institution, 
sustained by fees and endowment funds. Meetings semi-annually, at 
Boston in April, at Worcester in October. Present hall, completed 
in 1878, contains a useful library of 120,000 volumes, especially rich 
in historical works; newspaper collections from the earliest issues 
to the present time; important and comprehensive collection of 
United States and other official documents ; catalogue excellent ; paid 
library staff in charge. Valuable portraits, antiques, and manu- 
scripts; Revolutionary orderly books. Cotton and Increase Mather's 
diaries and sermons; "Notebook kept by Thomas Lechforcl," 1638- 
1641 ; Thomas's " History of Printing " and other works. Archaeo- 
logical cabinets of Indian and Mexican relics. Proceedings pub- 
lished since 1849; transactions in seven volumes, entitled Archreo- 
logica Americana. A Partial Index to the Proceedings (1812-80) 
was printed in 1883. Contents of the Proceedings (1880-1903) is- 
sued in 1905. 

American Baptist Historical Society, Philadelphia. — Life mem- 
bers enrolled upon payment of $10; present membership, 150. The 
library was destroyed by fire a few years ago. The society has been 
trying to regain its former condition, but is embarrassed by lack 
of money. Its object is to collect materials pertaining to the history 
of the Baptist denomination and to preserve books written by Bap- 
tists. 

American Geographical Society, New York. — Sustained by invested 
fund and dues; 365 life members in total of 1,400. Owns building 
valued at $200,000. Six meetings annually, of a business and sci- 
entific character. Library mainly geographical, carefully catalogued, 
40,000 volumes. Transactions since 1852 published in the Bulletin, 
37 volumes. 

American- Irish Historial /S'ocie^.— r-Organizecl January 20, 1897. 
Life membership fee, $50; annual, $5. Sustained by members; 
meets thrice a year, on anniversary days. No building yet provided, 
but library is being collected. Has published five annual volumes 
and several pamphlets. The secretary's office is in Boston, Mass. 

American Jewish Historical Society, New York. — Organized in 
1892. Membership fees: life, $100; annual, $5, Holds annual 
meeting at which papers are read and discussed. Library of 600 
volumes and numerous pamphlets, housed in Jewish Theological 
Seminary. Card catalogue. Possesses some manuscripts of the In- 
quisition in Mexico; several Dutch manuscripts; also a few other 
relics. Issues an annual volume of Puhllcations (13 now published). 

American Negro Historical Society, Philadelphia. — Organized 
1897; reorganized 1902. Supported by membership fees. Monthly 
meetings from September to June. The society is yet in its infancy, 



REPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 275 

and has done little beyond collecting photographs, pamphlets, and 
relics connected with the history of the negro in Philadelphia. 

American Numismatic and Arclioiological Society^ New York.— Or- 
ganized, 1858 ; a private corporation. Membership fees : life, $100 ; 
annual, $10. Has invested funds of $11,000. Regular meetings, four 
annually. Occupies rented quarters ; building in course of construc- 
tion. Library, with card catalogue, of 3,000 volumes and 25,000 
pamphlets, the latter catalogued in various ways. Museum of 30,000 
coins, medals, and archaeological objects. Holds occasional lectures, 
open to guests and members. Issues Annual Proceedings / is in flour- 
ishing condition. 

Colonial Dames of America, NeiD York. — Organized 1890. Mem- 
bership fees: Life, $100; initiation, $5; annual, $5. Library in, the 
New York Society library building. Collections of Americana of 
the colonial period; publications of the same character. Maintains 
museum and art collections. 

German- American Tlistorical Society, Philadelphia. — Membership, 
79 ; meetings per year, 12 ; publishes the German- American Annals 
(monthly), succeeding the Americana Germanica (quarterly). 

Jewish Puhlication Society of America, Philadelphia. — Organized 
1888, incorporated 1896. Private corporation. During fiscal year 
ending April 30, 1905, its receipts from life and annual member- 
ship fees, private donations, endowment funds, and miscellaneous 
income aggregated $18,191.13. Members must be of the Jewish faith, 
but subscribers may secure publications by payment of annual fees; 
business meetings are held annually. There are two secretaries, be- 
sides stenograjDhers and salaried canvasser, the total salaries amount- 
ing to $5,000 i^er annum; office rent, $300; total expenses during the 
last fiscal year, $18,877.99. The publications of the society include 
Lady Magnus's Outlines of Jewish History, H. Grsetz's History of 
the Jews, and the Jewish Year Book. With the growth of the Jew- 
ish popvdation in wealth and numbers the society's prosjjects are 
encouraging. 

National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 
Washington, D. C. — Organized 1890. A national institution, char- 
tered by Congress. Support is derived from membership fees, pri- 
vate donations for a Memorial Continental Hall, and income of 
current and building fund. Licome of current fund, last year, 
$49,595.46 ; of building fund, $9,6,435.07. There are life and annual 
members. National meetings are held annually (Continental Con- 
gress) ; board meetings monthly from October to June ; chapter meet- 
ings vary (generally monthly). Eighteen clerks are employed for 
genealogical, historical, and clerical work. A Memorial Continental 
Hall, costing from $300,000 to $500,000, is in course of construction. 



276 AMERICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Present headquarters in Washington Loan and Trust Company 
Building, annual rental being $2,755.80. Running expenses aggre- 
gate $38,024.83. The society maintains an historical and genealogical 
library with 3,235 titles, catalogued on the dictionary plan (not type- 
written). The society's museum of Revolutionary relics and por- 
traits of Revolutionary characters is now in the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution. Manuscript collections embrace application papers of 52,403 
members, with the records of their Revolutionary ancestors. Publi- 
cations consist of The American Monthly Magazine (official organ of 
the society). Annual Refort to Congress of United States, and Line- 
age Book (records of members — two such volumes issued yearly). 

National Society of Sons of the A^nerican Revolution, Washington, 
D. G. — Total membership, 11,800; includes 41 State societies. The 
national society library has a few hundred reference books; similar 
collections in libraries of State societies. Applications for member- 
ship on file with the registrar-general include pedigrees of more than 
16,000 persons, with proofs of ancestors' services in the Revolution, 
making a most valuable genealogical and historical collection. Pub- 
lishes a National Year Book, and the State societies issue Year Books 
and other historical works. (Now chartered by act of Congress ap- 
proved June 9, 1906.) 

Presbyterian Historical Society, Philadelphia. — Organized 1852; 
private corporation. Membership fees: Life, $100; annual, $5. 
Monthly meetings of council; one annual meeting. Salaried staff, 
two clerks; quarters by arrangement with board of publication. Ex- 
tensive collection of biographies and other material for church his- 
tory, catalogued in part; museum of portraits, prints, and other an- 
tiques ; a collection of manuscripts. Preserves weekly church papers ; 
publishes Journal. Limited income; few workers. 

Prince Society, Boston, Mass. — Organized May 25, 1858 ; incor])o- 
rated March 18, 1874. Private corporation, editing and printing 
manuscripts and books in American history. Publishes not more 
than one volume a year, assessing proportionate part of cost against 
members, who receive copy of work. No other clues. Has about 200 
members; no salaried staff. Publishes Prince Society Publications, 
of which 29 volumes have now appeared, including Hutchinson 
Papers, 2 volumes; Wood''s New England Prospect; Bunton's Let- 
ters from New England; Andros Tracts, 3 volumes; Sir William 
Alexander; John Wheelwright,' Voyages of the Northmen to Am- 
erica; Ghamplahi's Voyages, 3 volumes; New English Canaan; Sir 
Walter Raleigh; Capt. John Mason; Sir Ferdinando Gorges, 3 
volumes; Ahtinomianism in Massachusetts Bay; John Gheckley, 2 
volumes; Edward Randolph, 5 volumes; Sir Humfrey Gylberte. 

Society of Golonial Wars (general society). — Life members, about 
1,000; annual members, 3,000. Two meetings annually. Collects 



REPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 277 

material on colonial wars. Has published records of soldiers in these 
wars and papers on colonial history. Publishes a Register trienni- 
ally. 

Unitarian Historical Society^ Belmont^ Mass. — Membership, 115 ; 
owns no building. Holds an annual meeting at which an address is 
delivered. Society has a small library of parish histories and memo- 
rabilia of the liberal religious development at home and abroad. 
Has published three addresses. 

Vniversalist Historical Society.^ Tufts College., Mass. — Holds annual 
meetings at which an essay may be j^resented. Library of 5,200 vol- 
umes pertaining to doctrine of universal salvation; complete collec- 
tion of periodicals of same character. Card catalogue for part of 
library. Some manuscripts, as yet unarranged. 

Sectional Societies. 

Confederate Memorial Literary Society^ Richrnond., Va. — Estab- 
lished in 1890. Not entirely a private corporation. Annual mem- 
bership fees the principal source of support. Other sources, sale of 
catalogues, souvenirs, and contributions from chapters of the United 
Confederate Veterans of different States. Annual expenses about 
$2,000. Membership fees: Life, $10; annual, $1. Monthly business 
meetings are held, also an annual meeting in December. No salaries 
except to house regent and assistant and janitor at the Confederate 
Museum. The museum building ( formerly the " White House of 
the Confederacy," having been occupied by the family of Jefferson 
Davis while he was president of the Confederate States) and the 
grounds, valued at $60,000, were presented by the city of Richmond 
to this society for a Confederate Museum. The society maintains a 
library coinjDosed of materials, printed and manuscript, relating to 
the history of the South prior to the war between the States. It is 
partly catalogued, card system. The museum contains between 5,000 
and 8,000 articles. Confederate relics. It also has portraits of Con- 
federate officers, camp scenes from life, 32 fine oil scenes of the siege 
of Charleston, Fort Sumter, etc. Manuscript collection contains 
original letters, orders, official papers, addresses before Confederate 
organizations, etc. The newspaper material consists only of clip- 
pings from papers and files relating to Confederate subjects. 
The society assists in every way possible research in the field of 
southern history. Occasional public lectures are given, usually on 
the war between the States. The only publications issued are a Me- 
Tnorial Book, History of the E staljlisliinent of the Museum., Scraj)- 
hooh., etc. The present condition of the society is prosperous. In- 
terest in its w^ork is steadily increasing. 

Connecticut Valley Historical Society, Springfield, Mass. — Organ- 
ized 1876 ; life membership fee, $50 ; annual, $1. Quarterly meetings, 



278 AMEEICAlSr HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

others occasionally. Uncatalogiied library of 1,000 books and pam- 
phlets. Two volumes published by the society. Seeks to supple- 
ment ]3ublic library ; condition good. 

New England Catholic Historical Society^ Boston. — Membership,. 
150; two meetings annually for reading and discussion of historical 
papers. The society has no library. 

New England Historic Genealogical Society., Boston. — Organized 
November 1, 1844. Private corporation. Membership fees: Life, 
$50 ; annu€,l, $5. Annual income from all sources, $12,300. Monthly 
meetings, excejDt during summer season, for business and literary pur- 
poses. Owns building worth $65,000. Salaried staff, varying from 
10 to 18 persons. Library of G6,000 titles, partly catalogued, devoted 
to genealogy and New England local history ; some early local news- 
paj^ers, but recent files not extensive ; museum of curios, portraits, and 
other antiques. Valuable manuscript collections, including Knox 
papers of 55 folio volumes. Previously published, Waters'' Genealog- 
ical Gleanings in England. Present publications : New England His- 
torical and Genealogical Register ., quarterly; Annual Proceedings; 
Vital Statistics of Massachusetts Towns., 25 printed, 5 in preparation ; 
Abstract of Wills in Prerogative Court of Ganterbtvry., England; 
memorial biographies and miscellaneous gleanings. Condition flour 
ishing. 

New England Methodist Historical Society^ Boston. — Organized 
May 5, 1880 ; successor of New England Conference of Historical 
Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church, 1859-1872. Private cor- 
poration. Membership fees: Life, $50; annual, $1. One annual 
meeting, nine monthly meetings. Occupies room b}^ courtesy in build- 
ing of Wesleyan Association. Library of 3,500 books and 15,000 
pamphlets on Methodist Church history; card catalogue in use. 
Museum of Methodist history; manuscript of local churches, 
sketches, sermons. Proceedings., 13 numbers issued. Financial losses 
in 1903 have retarded work of the society. 

"<9ZcZ Northwest " Genealogical Society^ Colunibus., Ohio. — Organ- 
ized, 1897. Private corporation. Membership fees: Life, $50; 
annual, $3 ; admission, $5. Occasional addresses at quarterly meet- 
ings. Occupies quarters in Franklin County Memorial Hall. Sec- 
retary with small salary. Has library, partly catalogued, of 2,150 
titles pertaining chiefly to genealogy and local history. Small 
museum and a few manuscripts and newspapers. O fibers occasional 
public lectures; publishes Genealogiccd Quarterly. Condition very 
good. 

Pacific Coast Branch of American Historical Association. — Organ- 
ized April 9, 1904. A person holding membership in the American 
Historical Association is entitled to membership in the Pacific Coast 



KEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 279 

Branch without the payment of any additional dues. Expenses of 
annual meetings are paid by the American Historical Association. 
Meeting, annual; special meetings may be held. (A special meeting 
was held at Portland, in Augiist, 1905.) Proceedings published in 
ATnerican Historical Review and in the Animal Report of the Ameri- 
can Historical Association. The purpose of the organization is to 
further historical interests on the Pacific coast and to keep such inter- 
ests in touch with those of the American Historical Association. 

Southe^m History Association, Washington, D. C. — -Organized in 
April, 1896. Private corporation. All jDersons interested in its ob- 
jects are eligible to membership. Annual meetings are held. Annual 
membership dues, $3 ; life membership dues, $30. Has issued 9 vol- 
umes of Publications, on various phases of southern history, embrac- 
ing bibliographies, diaries and journals of Revolutionary soldiers and 
early explorers, biographical and genealogical articles, and important 
documents hitherto unpublished. 

The Tennessee Y alley Historical Society, Huntsville, Ala. — Organ- 
ized September 3, 1902. Altogether private; not incorporated. 
Membership fees its only source of supjDort. Provisions for member- 
ship, life, annual, honorarj^ Meetings held annually for presenta- 
tion of papers, receiving of reports, etc. No salaried staff. No build- 
ing. Can not approximate annual exj^enditures. No library nor 
museum nor manuscript collections. Collects and preserves local 
paper. The Tennessee Valley. The publications of the society consist 
of occasional circulars; some papers appear in local newspaper. 
Makes annual reports to the Alabama Department of Archives and 
History. For published accounts of society, see Gulf States Histori- 
cal Magazine, Volume 1, pages 58, 226, 299 ; also Transactions Ala- 
hania Historical Society, Volume IV, pages 193, 402, 580. 

United Confederate Veterans. — Organized at New Orleans, La., 
June 10, 1880. Not a State institution. The objects and purposes of 
this organization are " social, literary, historical, and benevolent," 
The following extract is taken from the constitution : " It will en- 
deavor to unite in a general federation all associations of Confederate 
veterans, soldiers, and sailors now in existence or hereafter to be 
formed; to gather authentic data for an impartial history of the 
war between the States ; to preserve relics or mementos of the same ; 
to cherish the ties of friendshij) that should exist among men who 
have shared common dangers, common sufferings and privations; to 
care for the disabled and extend a helping hand to the needy; to 
protect the widows and the orphans and to make and preserve a 
record of the services of every member, and, as far as possible, of 
those of our comrades who have preceded us into eternity." Mem- 
bership in local camps, bivouacs, or associations belonging to the 



280 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

general organization is restricted to those who are able to give " satis- 
factory proof of honorable service and discharge in the Confederate 
army or navy." Expenses can not be stated definitely. Annual 
reunions are held. An historical committee makes a report at each 
reunion. I^ocal organizations are encouraged to promote historical 
investigation, and many of their historians have prepared valuable 
contributions to Confederate military history. 

United Dcmghters of the Confederacy^ Nashville^ Tenn. — Organized 
at Nashville, Tenn., September 10, 1894. Not a State institution. 
An association the objects of which are " historical, educational, 
memorial, benevolent, and social." Supported by an annual per 
capita tax. Membershij) based upon relationship to or descent from 
Confederate soldiers, sailors, and civil officers. Annual conventions 
are held. Has many activities. Expenses can not be stated defi- 
nitely. Special lines of research work are undertaken through its 
general and division historical committees. It publishes an annual 
volume of Minutes. It is in a prosperous condition. 

United Sons of Confederate Vetera7is, Montgomery^ Ala. — Organ- 
ized at Richmond, Va., June 30, 1896. Not a State institution. Source 
of support, annual per capita tax of 10 cents upon each member. 
Membership limited to lineal '' descendants of those who served in 
the Confederate army or navy to the end of the war, or who died in 
prison or while in actual service, or who were killed in battle, or who 
were honorably retired or discharged." Annual reunions held at 
the same time and place as the reunion of the United Confederate 
Veterans. Exercises consist of general business, reports of officers 
and committees, election of officers, etc. No salaried staff. Expenses 
can not be stated definitely. Through an historical committee it 
conducts investigations in the history of the civil war. It is the 
endeavor of this committee, as well as of local cam]3S affiliated with 
the general organization, " to encourage the writing by participants 
therein of accounts, narratives, meinoirs, histories of battles, episodes, 
and occurrences of the war between the States; to gather authentic 
data, statistics, documents, reports, plans, maps, and other material 
for an impartial history of the Confederate side; to collect and j)re- 
serve relics and mementos of the war; to make and perpetuate a 
record of the service of every member of the United Confederate 
Veterans and all other living Confederate veterans, and, as far as 
possible, of their comrades who have preceded them into eternity." 
Division historical committees and camp historians assist in the 
accomplishment of these objects. Some camps have made valuable 
collections of military papers and relics. The publications of this 
organization are an annual volume of the Minutes of the Reunion., 
general orders, and circulars. 



report on state and local historical societies. 281 

State Societies. 

Alabama C'onfere7ice Historical jSociety, Methodist Episcopal 
Church South^ Montgomery^ Ala. — Organized at the session of the 
conference in Dothan, Ala., December 8, 1905. Not a State institu- 
tion. Objects, " the collection and preservation of the history of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church South in the bounds of the Alabama 
Conference." Source of support, membership fees. Membership, 
life, active, and honorary. Holds annual meetings. No salaried 
staff. Too early to estimate expenses. No library, but will make a 
collection of Alabama Methodist material. Preserves Alabama 
Christian Advocate and Nashville Advocate. Publications of the 
society not yet determined. Will make an annual report to the Ala- 
bama Department of Archives and History. Present conditions and 
prospects are excellent. 

Alahama Department of Archives and History., BI out g ornery. 
Ala. — Established by legislative act approved February 27, 1901. 
A State institution, located in the capitol. Objects and purposes, the 
care and custody of official archives, the collection of materials bear- 
ing on the history of the State, publication of the official records, etc. 
Supported entirely by State appropriatons. Oflcicd and Statistical 
Register^ Reports of director, and blanks, circulars, etc., which may 
be needed for the use of department, paid out of the public treasury. 
Salaried staff: Director, $1,800 a year; stenographer, $600; assistant, 
$360 a year (two latter paid for out of annual maintenance fund of 
$2,500). Maintains libraiy, museum, and art gallery, and manu- 
script collections. Special collections: Yancey manuscripts and 
papers, Curry collection, remnant of Pickett historical librar}?^. Meek 
collection, Lewis manuscripts, Confederate rosters, etc. State news- 
papers, about 200 in number, are j)reserved and bound from time to 
time. Research work is encouraged and aided. Anthropological 
and archaeological work are also fostered and aided by the depart- 
ment. No lecture courses are offered, though the director often de- 
livers public lectures before colleges, schools, and elsewhere. All his- 
torical societies in Alabama are invited to make annual reports to 
the director of the Department of Archives and History, the same 
to be published as a part of his Annual Report. Present condition, 
excellent ; prospects for the future, encouraging. 

Alahama Historiccd Society. — Organized July 8, 1850, at Tusca- 
loosa, Ala. Headquarters were moved to Birmingham in 1900, and 
thence to Montgomery in 1901. Private corporation. Its principal 
source of income, membership fees. Annual appropriation of $1,000 
from the State since 1898. Income can not be definitely stated. 
Membership : Life, annual, corresponding, and honorary. Holds an- 



282 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

nual meetings for consideration of historical papers, reports of offi- 
cers and committees, and administrative business. Has no salaried 
staff. No building. Collections turned over to Alabama Depart- 
ment of Archives and History. Has no library, no museum or art 
collection, no manuscript collections, and no newspaper collection. 
Publishes Annual Transactio7is, containing proceedings of meetings, 
some original manuscripts, and monographs. There was a revival of 
interest in 1898, which has continued. n 

Alaska, District Historical Library and Museum^ Sitka, Alaska. — 
Established by an act of Congress June 6, 1900. United States insti- 
tution. Salaried staff, one person at $60 per month. Maintains 
museum of Alaskan objects. Library contains books, pamphlets, and 
manuscripts relating to Alaska. 

Arka7isas Historical Association, Fayetteville, Ark. — Organized 
December 18, 1903, as local society among the students of the uni- 
versity. Reorganized on broader basis for the State November, 1904. 
Private corporation. Membership dues: Life, $30; annual, $2. 
Meetings held annually; poorly attended. No salaried officers. No 
buildings and no quarters, except privilege of using university li- 
brary as depository. Licome from dues, $125 a year. Expenditures 
up to date, $150. Beginning to collect books, pamphlets, and news 
paper files. No publication yet, but hope to issue an annual volumej 
January, 1907. 

Arkansas History G om,mission. — Erected by the legislature April 
1905. Consists of five members appointed by the president of the 
Arkansas Historical Association. Appropriation, $250 for investiga- 
tion, $1,000 for publication of first volume. Commission now organ 
ized; its duty is "to direct and supervise the printing of the firstj 
volume of the publications of said association," and to investigate 
and locate all extant sources of information bearing on the histor}'^ 
of the State, to catalogue and publish same. 

California Historical Society, San Francisco, Gal. — Support, mem- 
bership fees, $5 annual. Membership comprises active, 150; life, 1. 
Meetings, about twelve each year at which historical j^apers are read. 
Library of 2,444 titles; local and Pacific coast history; a few news- 
papers. (Totally destroyed by earthquake and fire, April 18-21, 
1906.) 

The State Historical and Natural History Society of Golorado, 
Denver, Golo. — Organized 1879. Incorporated under legislative 
enactment. Title to all its property vested in State. Supjjort, State 
appropriation, about $5,700 per annum; membership fees, $2 annu- 
ally for active members, $1 for associate members, $25 for life mem- 
bers. Membership, active, life, honorary, and associate. Salaried 
staff, curator, $1,500; museum assistant, $800. Housed in state house; 
20 rooms. Library, general; about 19,000 titles; not catalogued. 



1 



} 




REPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 283 

Museum, historical and scientific; about 25,000 natural history ob- 
jects; some pictures. Some manuscrij^ts. Over 400 files of news- 
pajjers. Archaeology and anthropology, about 3,000 articles relative 
to the cliff dwellers (the most valuable in existence). Lectures in 
museum to pupils from public schools. Publications, Biennial Re- 
ports and special. Outlook promising. 

Connecticut Historical Society^ Hartford^ Conn. — Membership, 
400. Joint occupancy of building with other libraries. Receives 
annually $1,000 from State, $100 to $400 from Athen^um. Meet- 
ings : One annual ; eight regular. Library, partly catalogued ; 30,000 
titles, including New England local histories, 1,300;' genealogies, 
1,500 ; Eohbins's collection of early x\mericana, 7,000 ; extensive collec- 
tions of State and Congressional documents; 1,150 bound volumes of 
newspapers. Manuscripts estimated at 50,000, especially Wolcott, 
Wadsw^orth, Talcott, Trumbull, and Patterson papers. Special lists 
of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut local his- 
tories, genealogies, and manuscripts recently acquired. Publications, 
10 volumes of Collections^! averaging 400 pages each; several minor 
publications ; Antvual Reports since 1890. 

Historical Society of Delaioare., Wilmington, Del. — Founded in 
1864; incorporated, 1868. Membership fees: Life, $25; annual, $5. 
Present membership, 150. Endowment fund, $5,500; annual State 
appropriation, $300 ; annual income from all sources, $800. Monthly 
meetings are held. Assistant librarian receives $10 a month and 
janitor $5. Rooms are rented at $150 a year. Total expenditures, 
$600. A library of 2,500 volumes is maintained. Catalogued, Dewey 
classification. Few manuscripts are collected. Public lectures arc 
offered occasionally on historical subjects. The historical papers 
read before the society are jDrinted as Biographical and Historical 
Papers, 4 volumes, containing 42 pamphlets. Society is doing good 
work. 

Columbia Historical Society, Waslmigton, D. C. — Organized April 
12, 1894; incorporated May 3, 1894. Entirely a private corporation. 
Only source of support from membership fees. Present annual in- 
come, about $1,400. Membership dues: Life, $50; annual, $5. All 
active members must be residents of the District of Columbia. Meet- 
ings are held on the second Monday evening from November to 
May, inclusive; one historical paper of fifty minutes or two of 
thirty minutes each, with a general discussion. The recording sec- 
retary receives $100 annually in recognition of her faithful services. 
The collections contain about 2,000 titles. The library is housed, 
rent free, by the curator, and meetings are held in the banquet hall 
of the Shoreham Hotel, at $25 a night. Total expenditures, about 
$900. All volumes and pamphlets in the library relate to the Dis- 
trict of Columbia. The Records are published annually, including 



284 AMEEICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

annual reports, proceedings, transactions, and papers read before the 
society. Four hundred copies are issued at a time, of about 300 
pages, with ilUistrations. From 29, in 1894, the society has grown m 
numbers to 278. The prospects are bright. 

Georgia Historical Society^ Savannah. — -Organized in 1839. Pri- 
vate corporation. Present annual income, about $2,000. One hun- 
dred members : Life, $250 ; annual, $25. Quarterly meetings are 
held. Librarian and recording secretary are salaried. Owns a 
building, e'rected especially for society, worth about $30,000. Annual 
expenditures, $2,000. A general library, principally historical, is 
maintained, consisting at present of 26,000 volumes. Card catalogue 
system. A number of ma;nuscripts on the early history of the State, 
such as letters of James Habersham, proceedings of Provincial Con- 
gress, letters of Joseph Clay, notes of James Jackson, and other 
material; also many old files of newspapers. Occasionally 'public 
lectures are offered and historical publications are issued. Publica- 
tions: Georgia Historical Society Collections.^ 5 volumes, contain 
reports of the work. 

Ger'inan- American Historical Society of Illinois, Chicago. — Organ- 
ized March 12, 1900. Membership fees : Life, $25 ; annual, $3. 
About 400 members. Monthly and annual meetings. Library, 380 
volumes. Salaried secretary. Journal, Deutsch-Amerikanische Ge- 
schichtshldtter, 1901 to date. 

Illinois State Historical Library, Spring-fi.el(l, III. — Organized 1889. 
Is a State institution, receiving from the legislature in 1905 $5,000 
for all purposes. Has three salaried officers; occupies rooms in 
State capitol. Library contains approximately 18,000 titles, with 
printed card catalogue ; strongest in western and Illinois history. 
Has no museum, but possesses Lincoln manuscripts of 1831-1837; 
also a manuscript life of Lincoln, illustrated, and papers on Black 
Hawk's war. Collects Illinois newspapers, having complete files of 
Illinois State Register, 1835-1906; /ZZmois State Journal, 1831-1906. 
Publishes Annual Transactions ; Dictionary Catalogue of Library, 
1900. 

Illinois State Historical Society, Sjyring field. III. — Organized 1899. 
Membership fees : Life, $25 ; initiation, $1 ; annual, $1. Holds one 
annual meeting. Employs no salaried staff. The library and the 
society are parts of the State historical library. Though controlled 
as to the expenditure of State funds by the trustees of the library, 
this society has officers and a board of directors, as well as auxiliaries 
in several local societies. Its publications apj^ear with those of the 
library. Condition excellent. 

Indiana Historical Society, Indianapolis, Ind. — Organized 1830; 
reorganized 1888. Occupies room in capitol; receives occasional 
grants from State. One annual meeting. Library, about 2,000 vol- 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 285 

umes. Has issued three volumes of Publications since 1888. Efforts 
centered chiefi}^ on publication. 

Historical Defartment of Iowa, Des Moines, Iowa. — Established 
1892. State institution. Support, appropriations by the State of 
about $10,000 annually. Salaried stati composed of curator, $1,600; 
assistant curator, $1,000; clerk and. stenographer, $900; ovei-seer of 
museum, $720. Housed in building which when completed will have 
cost approximately $400,000. Expenditures, apart from salaries, 
about $5,000 per annum. Library of 14,182 titles, chiefly State and 
western history ; also biography, genealogy, statistics ; typewritten 
card catalogue, Dewej^ classification. All of the leading newspapers 
of the State received and bound. Art collection of 85 oil portraits, 
chiefly of Iowa men of prominence. Museum of archaeology and 
natural history. Anthropology and archaeology field work consists 
of exploration of mounds and ancient graves in Iowa. Large col- 
lection of autograph letters and portraits. Manuscripts, 25 or 30 
volumes in fine binding. Publications, Annals of Iowa, a quarterly 
magazine (21 volumes) ; biennial reports (7) ; reprints of early laws 
(2 volumes) ; several manuscript volumes relative to Iowa history. 

State Historical Society of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. — Organized 
1857. State institution, incorporated. Support: Permanent State 
appropriation, $7,500 annually. Membership fees : Admission, $5 ; 
annual, $3 ; life, $50. Meetings, annual, for business. Salaried staff, 
librarian and cataloguer, $960; custodian, $480; collector, $600; 
editor, $400; assistant, $180; stenographer, $300. Housed by State 
university in Hall of Liberal Arts. Library, relating chiefly to 
local, western, and American history, about 40,000 titles ; accessioned 
and shelf listed. Museum small. Manuscript collection small, con- 
fined to local history. NewspajDers, about 150 of the leading news- 
papers of the State received, 2,000 bound volumes on file. Special 
research work in State and local history a leading feature of the 
activities of the society; work outlined and carried on under the 
direction of board of curators. Anthropology and archaeology, an 
anthropological survey has been undertaken ; field work under direc- 
tion of trained anthropologist ; reports published ; collections pre- 
served. An industrial history of Iowa outlined and investigations 
begun. An Iowa biographical series planned and in preparation. 
Documentary history of political parties in preparation. Syste- 
matic publication of the archives of the State outlined and begun. 
Several public lectures given each year. Publications, 160 page 
quarterly; Annual Report to governor of State (1-25) ; Document- 
ary Material Relating to the History of loioa (3 volumes) ; Messages 
and Proclamations of the Governors of Iowa (7 volumes) ; Executive 
Journal of Iowa, in press; Annals of Iowa (12 volumes), discon- 
tinued; Iowa Historical Record (18 volumes), discontinued; eight 



286 AMEEICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

miscellaneous publications. All local historical societies of the State 
are auxiliary members of this State Historical Society. There are 
now 115 library members. 

Kansas State Historical Society^ Topeka^ Kans. — Organized De- 
cember 13, 1875, at the instance of the Kansas Editors and Pub- 
lishers' Association. Trustee of the State, 1879. Incorporated. Sup- 
port: State appropriation, $7,620 annually. Annual printing 
allowance, $3,261.45; membershij^ fees, $196. Total expenditures 
per annum,, $10,881.45. Membership: Active, life, honorary, corre- 
sponding; editors and j)ublishers members by virtue of the contribu- 
tion of their newspapers, 750. Meetings, annual, in December, for 
the report of secretary and reading of papers. Salaried staff of five 
employees, with a pay roll of $4,320 per annum. Housed in State 
capitol, occupying 9,000 square feet, with exchange room in base- 
ment. Library of general interest; purchases confined to history; 
119,600 titles; partially catalogued, Dewey system, typewritten. Mu- 
seum for historical objects and archaeology, 8,502 objects; art collec- 
tion of portraits of Kansans and Kansas views, 6,335 objects. Manu- 
scripts, collection of 27,960, relating chiefly to Kansas and Kansas 
affairs; card-catalogued by author and subject. Newspapers and 
magazines of the State collected and preserved, 19,761 bound volumes; 
newspapers and magazines outside the State, 10,627; 1,400 bound 
volumes added yearly. Society has custody of the public archives 
of Kansas, State and local, which by law may be deposited with the 
society. Suggests the preparation of papers on neglected topics. 
Anthropology and archseology, committee on archaeology makes ex- 
plorations and an annual report; one-fourth of museum made up of 
archaeological and anthropological collections. Publications: Trans- 
actions (8 volumes) ; biennial Reports (14 have been published) ; 
miscellaneous publications. State appropriation for marking his- 
toric sites. 

Kentucky State Historical Society^ Frankfort^ Ky. — Organized 
1839-40, reorganized in 1896. In 1880 the State set apart rooms in 
the capitol for use of the society ; State also supplies stationery, post- 
age, and i^aj^s printing bills; prospect of a State appropriation of 
$5,000 annually. Membership fee, $1 annually. No salaried officers. 
Newsjjaper and manuscript collection small. Library and art collec- 
tion more extensive. The society issues a quarterly publication, en- 
titled Register of the Kentucky State Historical Society. 

Louisiana Historical Association^ New Orleans^ La. — Organized 
and chartered for ninety-nine years in 1889. The State has no con- 
trol over it, but under the constitution must appropriate for its use 
$1,200 annually. Supported by State appropriations (about $1,600 
a year), membership fees and private donations ($100), and endow- 
ment fund ($250). Membership consists of annual members, about 



KEPOKT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 287 

50 in number. Quarterly business meetings are held. The society 
occupies Memorial Hall, built and donated for its use. The total 
expenditure of the society for all purposes, about $1,700. Its main 
object is the collection of Confederate relics and documents which 
relate to the war betAveen the States. It has about 20,000 of the 
former and 6,000 to 8,000 of the latter. The present condition satis- 
factory. 

Louisiana Historical Society^ New Orleans^ La. — Organized Janu- 
ar}^ 15, 1836. Reorganized in June, 1846. Incorporated in 1847; by 
act of legislature (extra session), 1877, duly incorporated. Member- 
ship, 172. Not a State institution, except in so far as it is the guard- 
ian of certain books and manuscripts which in case of the dissolution 
of the society revert to the State for the use of the State library. So- 
ciety has received a few special appropriations, the principal one 
being $2,500 for the celebration of the centennial anniversary of the 
purchase of Louisiana. Before the civil war the legislature appro- . 
priated about $2,000 for copies of Louisiana manuscripts in the 
archives of France. Annual income from all sources,* $500. Monthly 
meetings are held, except during July, August, and September. No 
salaried staff. No buildings; holds its meetings in a room lent by 
the New Orleans Public Librar}^ The income of late years has been 
spent in publishing the papers read before the society, and about $400 
has been spent during the last three years in having transcripts 
made of documents relating to Louisiana found in the archives of 
the Ministere cles Colonies, Paris. The collection consists of manu- 
scripts of the French and Spanish period, transcripts of manuscripts 
from France, and books and pamphlets obtained b}^ exchange, about 
300 in number. It is believed that the society now owns all of the 
manuscripts used by Charles Gayarre, historian of Louisiana. No 
library is maintained, but books are kept in a Separate room of the 
library of Tulane LTniversity. Some relics were obtained from the 
excavations of the Indian mounds in Louisiana. Since 1895 three 
volumes of publications have been issued. It is now proposed to 
issue a volume each year. 

Maine Historical Society^ Portland., Me. — Organized April 11, 1822. 
Membership fees : Admission, $10 ; life, $30 ; annual, $3 ; income from 
fees, funds, and State subscriptions; building to cost $30,000. Six 
monthl}^ meetings in winter and spring. Salaried staff in charge of 
library of about 25,000 titles; card catalogue; museum of antiques. 
Large number of miscellaneous manuscripts — Proprietary, Fogg's 
collection, Knox, Longfellow, William King, Trelawny, Kennebec 
County, Penobscot County, and many others. Newspapers, about 
480 volumes. Published: Collections., 11 volumes; Collections and 
Proceedings., 10 volumes; Documentary Series., 8 volumes; Annual 
Proceedings., 5 pamphlets. 



288 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Maryland Historical Society^ Baltimore^ Md. — Organized 184-4. 
Private corporation, but custodian of certain State archives, whicli 
it also publishes as the agent of the State. Membership fees about 
$2,500. State appropriation only for publication of archives, $2,000. 
Has a permanent fund of $20,000, the income to be divided equally 
for the enlargement of the library and for the issuance of historical 
publications by the society. Holds monthly meetings, except in 
July, August, and September. Four paid officers, outside of force 
employed in care of building, at aggregate salary of about $2,000. 
Society's lot and building valued at from $60,000 to $60,000— a three- 
story brick building with fireproof vault attached. Has a library 
containing books, pamphlets, files of newspapers, transcripts of rec- 
ords, broadsides, and original documents pertaining to American 
history, especially to Maryland history; about 35,117 volumes and 
12,000 pamphlets. Uses Dewey card catalogue, not typewritten. 
Manuscript collection consists largely of State archives (now in 
course of publication) ; autograph letters; special collections, as the 
Calvert Papers, Gist Papers, Gilmor, Tawney, Hill, Dulaney Papers, 
etci Large collection of newspapers, old and new. Complete cal- 
endar of all newspapers now in preparation. The society is, under 
the authority of the general assembly, the custodian of the early 
archives of the State, including council and assembly and a portion 
of the provincial court proceedings. This covers most of the period 
from 1634 to 1789. 

Society for the History of the Germans in Mciryland., Baltimore^ 
Md. — Organized January 5, 1886. Private corporation. Member- 
ship fee, $5 per annum, only means- of support. Present annual in- 
come $424.70. Monthl}^ meetings are held at which original articles 
are read and discussed. No salaried officer. Society has one room 
in the Germania Clubhouse. Average expenditures about $325. A 
library is maintained, chiefly of German travels in earlier times. It 
contains about 500 volumes. Card catalogue is used. Annual re- 
ports (not regular) are issued, amounting to 16 volumes. 

Bay State Historical League. — Composed of 21 local societies in 
Middlesex and Essex counties, Mass. The organization was formed 
in Boston April 3, 1903, its objects being defined as follows: (1) To 
encourage the formation of historical societies; (2) to encourage 
the existing historical societies in prosecution of historical study 
and the dissemination of historical knowledge, in the institution 
and maintenance of historical memorials and anniversaries, the col- 
lection, preservation, and publication of historical material, and to 
bring such societies into a closer relation with one another; and (3) 
otherwise to promote historical interests. Annual meetings are held 
at historic points, with addresses by prominent persons, pilgrimages 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 289 

to places of interest, and informal conferences regarding common 
interests. It is hoped that by thus combining their forces the several 
societies in the league may stimulate popular concern in the history 
of their region, while leaving each society free to Avork out its own 
problems. The secretary is Alfred W. Putnam, Danvers, Mass. 

Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston, Mass. — Organized in 
1791. Private corporation ; membership limited by charter to 100; 
sustained by fees and income from endowment funds; owns build- 
ing worth $225,000; holds monthly meetings characterized by read- 
ing of historical papers. Library especially strong in New England 
history and Avorks of civil Avar; aggregate number of books and 
pamphlets, 155,000, catalogued with cards. Extensive collections of 
manuscripts, newspapers, and documents. Maintains a museum. 
Has published Proceedings, 2 series; Collections, 7 series of 10 vol- 
umes each (except the last, still unfinished) — 65 A^olumes to date, 
including A^aluable historical material, reprints of rare A^olumes of 
colonial history, and important collections of papers, such as Bel- 
knap, Sewall, Winthrop, Trumbull, Belcher, Pickering, Pepperrell, 
BoAvdoin, Temple, Heath Papers, etc. 

Military Historical Society of Massachusetts, Boston. — Organized 
1871. Private corporation; 150 members. Supported by income 
from fees, sales, and John C. Hopes fund. Papers on military topics 
read at monthly meetings, November to April, inclusiA^e. Annual 
expenditures, $1,800. Salaried librarian. Library with typewritten 
card catalogue, 7,000 titles on military history. Has a collection of 
Napoleonic medals. Six volumes published. 

Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, Lansing, Mich. — Organ- 
ized April 22, 1874. Private corporation, supported by the State. 
Membership fee $1 ; no endowment. Biennial appropriations vary 
from $3,500 to $5,000. Annual meeting in June. Midwinter meet- 
ings to be held in various cities. Officers serA^e Avithout remuneration. 
Presidents of county societies are ex officio vice-x^residents State so- 
ciety. One salaried clerk and an assistant are employed. Office in 
capitol; library merged Avith that of State. Maintains museum of 
Indian curios and pioneer relics; has recently secured a collection of 
pioneer China, copper, and jjewter dishes. Manuscripts printed as 
collected in Historiccd Collections, containing many original docu- 
ments, and transcripts from Canadian archives and British Public 
Record Office of material relating to early Michigan history, 34 vol- 
umes. Publications sent to each grange, free public and school 
library. Pioneer day observed through society's efforts. Condition 
A''ery prosperous. 

Minnesota Historical Society, .St. Paul, Minn. — Organized and in- 
corporated 1849. State institution. Income, principally from State 

H. Doc. 923, 59-1—19 



290 AMERICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

fippropriations, $20,000 per annum; also from dues of 355 membsrs. 
Members in four classes: Honorary, corresponding, life, and annual. 
Dues: $5, annual; $25, life (six annual payments constitute a life 
membership). Governed by executive council of 30 elective and 6 
ex officio members. Meetings of the society annually in January''; 
of the council, monthly for business and historical addresses. Salaried 
staff of secretary and librarian, two assistant librarians, five other 
assistants. Aggregate salaries, $8,020. Housed in six rooms of new 
capitol for library and museum; eight rooms of old capitol for por- 
trait gallery and archaBological department. Expenditures (1905) : 
Books, $4,980; binding, $1,550; library service, $7,680; department 
of archaeology, $3,900. Library of 81,768 titles, chiefly historical, 
particularly strong in local Minnesota history and genealogy. Card 
catalogue. Newspapers received, 485 from Minnesota ; 40 from with- 
out the State ; 7,160 bound files. Manuscript collections : Letters of 
Indian agents, General Sibley, Lawrence Taliaferro; journals of 
Long's expedition, 1823; of Charles Larpenteur, fur trader; large 
collection of biographical sketches of pioneers and citizens of Minne- 
sota. Three hundred and fifty framed portraits, w^ith 200 other 
framed pictures and 1,000 photograj)hs. Museum of historical relics 
of the Sioux war and war of secession ; extensive collection of arch- 
aeological relics, especially of Sioux and Ojibwa tribes. Brower 
archa?ological collection, 21,000 pieces, being arranged for exhibition. 
Publications: Min7iesota Historical Collections, 11 volumes; Reports, 
annual (1868-1879); biennial (1881-1905). 

Mississippi Baptist Historical Society, Jackson, Bliss. — Founded 
in 1888. Sole source of support, membership dues, 50 cents a year. 
Meetings are held annually. No salaried staff. Has rooms in the 
First Baptist Church, Jackson, Miss. The library contains prin- 
ci]oally denominational transactions, etc. Keeps file of The Baptist,' 
and has old files of other Baptist papers of the State. Condition 
at present moribund. 

Mississijjpi Department of Archives and History, Jackson, Miss. — 
State department. Established February 26, 1902 ; organized March 
14, 1902. Governed by a board of trustees; administered b}'^ a 
director, who is elected by the board for a term of six years. Sup- 
ported by biennial appropriations of the State legislature ; the 
income for 1905 is $5,600. The publications are the Annual Report 
of the Director to the Board of Trustees, Official and Statistical 
Register of the State of Mississippi (issued every four 3^ears), and 
Documentary History of Mississippi (issued every two years). Six 
volumes have been issued up to date, the first of the Gulf States to 
begin the publication of its documentary archives. The department 
has quarters in the new statehouse — an office, a hall of history, a 
hall of fame. Its aims and objects have been greatly aided b}^ f;ug- 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTOEICAL SOCIETIES. 291 

gestive words and willing supiDort, and the outlook for the future is 
most promising. 

Mississiqrpi Historical Society, University, J/iss.— Organized in 
1890; incorporated in 1898. Membership fees: $2, annual; $30, life. 
State appropriation $1,000 for each volume of publications issued. 
No endowment fund. Has about 300 paying members. Gross sum 
expended annually for purposes of the society, $2,000. Holds annual 
meetings, at which are read usually about twelve or fifteen papers 
on various phases of Mississippi and southern history. Other papers 
usually about thirty, are read by title and submitted to the society 
for publication. The secretary, who edits the publications, receives 
$250 a volume ; the assistant, $210 a year. The library has no sepa- 
rate building; it consists principally of publications of other so- 
cieties received in exchange for its publications. The society had a 
valuable collection of manuscripts and relics, which were presented 
to the State upon the creation of the department of archives and 
history. The principal ones were the Ames MSS. and the Claiborne 
collection. Eight bound volumes, entitled Publications of the Mis- 
sissippi Historical Society, have been issued. These contain for the 
most part finished products of research. Source materials are pub- 
lished by the Department of Archives and History. The society 
is in a flourishing condition, and the membership list increases 
yearly. 

Mississippi Methodist Historical Society, Jackson, il/«ss.— Organ- 
ized June 1, 1903. Denominational institution. No membership 
fees; voluntary contributions. The membership is composed of all 
members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in the Missis- 
sippi conference, and such lay members as may be elected by the 
society of curators. Meetings are held annually. No salaried staff. 
No building, no library; manuscript collection very meager. No 
newspapers except rare religious papers. Addresses are made annu- 
ally on some phase of Methodist history. It has no regular pub- 
lication. The object of the society is to collect and preserve relics 
iind information concerning the rise and progress of Methodism. 

! Prospects are bright. 

Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis, il/o.— Established 1806. 

i Private corporation. Income, $3,000 per annum ; small endowment. 

'Membership: Life, active, corresponding, honorary; 600 members. 
Meetings, nine a year, at which historical papers are read and dis- 
cussed. Salaried staff consists of librarian. Housed in a remodeled 
private residence worth $10,000. Library strong in local history and 
Mississippi Valley, about 30,000 titles. Museum, archa?ology,' por- 
traits, relics; collection of historical portraits large and valuable. 
Manuscripts relating to history of the Mississippi Valley, to St. 
Louis, to fur trade of Missouri River ; documents in Spanish, French, 



292 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

and English. Newspapers, files of leading dailies of St. Louis. 
Publications, Collections (2 volumes). 

State Historical Society of Missouri^ Golumhia^ Mo. — Organized 
by State Press Association on May 26, 1898. Incorporated 1899. 
Trustee of the State, 1899. Support, $5,000 for biennial period 
appropriated by the State ; membership fees, $1 annually ; life mem- 
bership, $25. Membership : Annual, life, corresponding, honorary, 
and auxiliary. Meetings held annually. Salaried staff composed of 
'secretary and librarian, $1,750; assistant librarian, $800. Housed by 
University of Missouri in Academic Hall, six rooms. Library of 
historical material for Missouri and Mississippi Valley, 27,281 titles; 
dujolicates, 27,000. Manuscript collection small. Collection of news- 
papers and periodicals include bound volumes and 760 current issues 
from Missouri. Museum small, anthropology and archeology — col- 
lection of Indian stone implements. Publications: Biennial reports 
to legislature (2) ; papers read at second annual meeting have been 
printed ; several pamphlets, including catalogue of exhibits at St. 
Louis World's Fair. 

Montana Historical Society^ Helena, Mont. — Incorporated by the 
legislature 1864. Department of the State library, 1893. Support, 
State appropriations. No membership. Salaried staff, consisting of 
cataloguer and stenographer, $800; newspaper clerk, etc., $720. 
Housed in capitol building, three rooms with additional space in 
basement. Library of 30,000 titles; politics. State documents and 
history; catalogue begun. Museum, largely an Indian collection. 
Newspapers, all State papers, magazines, etc., published in Montana 
are received and preserved. Publications: Contributions.^ 6 volumes, 
containing important material on early State history, journals and 
reminiscences of fur-traders and explorers. 

Nebraska State Historical Society., Lincoln., Nehr. — Established 
1878 ; became State institution 1883. Support, $5,000 annual ap- 
propriation from State ; membership fees, entrance $2 ; no annual 
dues. Membership consisting of those elected for life or during resi- 
dence in State; honorary members outside State. Meetings, annual, 
for reading of j^apers, addresses, etc. Salaried staff', consisting of 
curator and librarian, $1,450; director of field work, $1,200; archae- 
ologist, $850 ; newspaper clerk, $325 ; secretar}'', SlOO ; treasurer, 
$25. Housed by State university with 4,000 square feet of floor sur- 
face. Expenditures : Salaries, approximating $3,000 ; printing, $600 ; 
binding, $300; miscellaneous, $1,000. Library relating to Nebraska, 
local, and western history, over 25,000 titles; accessioned and ar- 
ranged, Dewey system. Museum of Avestern archaeology, and general 
local curios; about 30,000 pieces; art collection small, a few paint- 
ings, portraits, 2,000 photographs, and phonographic records of 
Indian music. Manuscripts, relating to Nebraska history ; census 



EEPOKT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 293 

returns; large number of letters; early military records; proceed- 
ings of constitutional convention (1871). Newspapers, about 500 
State papers, daily and weekly ; bound from time to time. Arclias- 
ology, work being done for archaeological survey of State. Occa- 
sional stereopticon lectures on Nebraska history. Publications: 
quarterly magazine (one year), now discontinued; Transactions and 
Reports^ first series (1885-93), 5 volumes; Proceedings and Collec- 
/«'(97i.s, second series (1894-1902) 6 volumes; in jDress (1906), 3 volumes. 

Neiv Tlamqjshire Genealogical Society, Dover, N . II. — Incorporated 
February 2'!, 1903. Private corporation. Membershij? fees : Life, 
$25 ; annual, $2. One annual meeting ; special meetings at call of 
secretary ; monthly meetings of trustees. No State support. Genea- 
logical and historical librarj^, about 7,000 titles; catalogue unhnished. 
No museum. A few private records and journals in manuscript 
form. In preparation :- New Hamf shire Genealogical and Biograph- 
ical Memorial. Publication : New Ilamfshrre Genealogiccd Record^ 
quarterly magazine. 

New Ilamjjshire Historical Society, Concord. — Organized May 20, 
1823. Private corporation. Membership fees : Admission, $5 ; $3 
annually thereafter; life membership, $50; fees of corresponding 
and honorary members, optional. State appropriation, $500 annu- 
ally; has a jDcrmanent fund of $12,000; in addition to this, $6,500 
in hand and $10,000 willed, but not yet received, the income to be 
used in book purchases. Holds monthly meetings and an annual 
field day at some town in the State. Librarian the only paid officer. 
Society's building cost $10,000, but is old and not fireproof. Has 
library, mostly local history and genealogy, of 20,000 bound volumes 
and 73,500 pamphlets. Has card catalogue of about 5,000 volumes, 
also catalogue of genealogies, etc. Maintains a small collection of 
curios, mostly Revolutionary relics and collections of birds. MS. 
collections confined to early history of State, notably the Daniel 
Webster papers. Governor Plumer papers, the Hibbard papers, and 
the " Original Records of all the Court-Martials " held at Louisburg, 
1746-1748. Newspaper files run back to 1790. Has published tAvelve 
volumes of Collections and three of Proceedings. Maintains free 
monthly historical lectures. Society has about 180 members; is 
trying to raise funds for a new building. 

New Jersey Historical Society, Newark, N. J. — Organized 1845, 
Private corporation ; 800 members. Membership fees : Life, $50, 
or payment of annual dues for twenty years successively ; annual 
dues, $5. Business meetings monthly and one annual meeting, at 
any of which historical addresses may be delivered. Annual income, 
$3,000. Salaried staff, two officers. Library, card catalogue, about 
50,000 titles, chiefly on State history and genealogy. Museum main- 
tained, but not extensive; some valuable portraits. Manuscript col- 



294 AMERICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCTATIOlSr. 

lection contains much material for Colonial and Revolutionary 
periods. Many files of early New Jersey newspapers; some early 
New England, New York, and Pennsylvania files; facilities not ade- 
quate for contemporary papers. Full sets United States and New 
Jersey documents. Publications: Proceedings^ 3 series, 26 volumes; 
Collections^ 8 volumes; Neto Jersey Archives^ 2 series, 26 volumes. 

Historical Society of New Mexico^ Santa Fe^ N . Mex. — Reor- 
ganized in 1880. Private corporation. Supj^ort : Membership fees 
amount to $50 per annum; $400 to $800 annually from the Terri- 
tory; total income about $1,000 per annum, with occasional addi- 
tional subscriptions. Members, annual and life. Meetings, two or 
three each year. Salaried staff, curator, $150. Housed in the palace 
at Santa Fe. Library, on southwestern history. Museum of New 
Mexican objects. A few manuscripts, also documents relative to 
American occupation. Several territorial newspapers preserved. 
Two or three lectures each year. Publications, Annual Report and 
about one pamphlet a year. Aims to collect and preserve articles 
and material connected with southwestern history in order to pre- 
vent outsiders from carrying them off. 

New York Genealogical and BiografMcal Society^ Ne-w York. — 
Membership fees: Entrance, $10; annual, $5; life, $100. Publishes 
The New York Genealogical and Biografliical Record: annual sub- 
scrijotion, $3 ; life, $75 ; subscribers in perpetuity, $100. 

New York State Historical Association, Lake George, N. Y. — 
Organized 1899 ; a private corporation. Annual income, about $500. 
One annual meeting which occupies two days, with public lectures 
each day. Library of 500 volumes and pamphlets. Proceedings 
published annually. The society neither owns nor rents a building, 
but its meetings are well attended, and the outlook is favorable. 

Pennsylvania Society, New York. — Founded April 25, 1899. Pri- 
vate corporation sustained by fees of 800 members, who must be 
Pennsylvanians. Meetings as occasions demand. Owns no build- 
ing. Library uncatalogued ; about 3,000 titles pertaining to State 
history. No museum. Regular publications: Annual Yearhook, 
Pennsylvania Gazette, and bulletins of information for members. 
Prospects very bright. 

Society of Colonial Wars in the State of New York. — Total mem- 
bership in 1905, 1,034. Four meetings annually, at which papers on 
colonial history are read ; also an annual banquet. Collects books on 
colonial subjects, preserves and catalogues genealogical records. 
Erected monuments at Louisburg, Cape Breton Island, and on Lake 
George. 

The Historical Society of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, N. C. — 
Founded in 1833. Private corporation in connection with the univer- 
sity. Meetings are held six times a year, at which papers and reviews 



REPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 295 

of books on Xortli Carolina history are read. No salaried staff. So- 
ciety has a room in a university building. A library is maintained, 
in which are kept books, manuscripts, and papers on American and 
State history; not catalogued. The society has been in a moribund 
condition for years, but eiforts are being made to revive it. Society 
publishes through the university department of history. 

State Literary and Historical Association^ Raleigh^ N. G . — Organ- 
ized in 1900. Voluntary State-vride membership. Membership fees 
only source of support. Annual income from all sources, $150. An- 
nual meetings are held, at which addresses and reports are made. 
Secretary only salaried officer, at $50 a year. Association has no 
building of its own, and does not maintain a library. No museum, 
but an historical museum has been established through its efforts. 
Publishes Minutes of annual meetings. Promotes rural libraries; 
encourages monuments at historic sites; secured establishment of 
historical commission ; offers prizes for literary productions. 

State Historical Society of North Dakota^ Bismarck, N. Dak. — 
Organized 1895, reorganized 1903. Incorporated trustee of the State. 
Support: Membership fees, $2 annually; life membership, $25; State 
appropriation, $1,250 annualh^ Membership : Annual, life, honor- 
ary. Business meetings held biennially at Bismarck ; other meetings 
both at Bismarck and in the Red River Valley. Salaried staff, 
custodian, $600. Housed in the capitol building — three rooms. Li- 
brary of 2,000 titles ; not catalogued. Museum composed of Mandan, 
Sioux, Chippewa, and Icelandic collections, with other miscellaneous 
articles. Newspapers, two copies of each issue of all newspapers in 
the State must b}- law be deposited wdth the society. Field work 
m anthropology and archaeology, Indian mounds, and deserted vil- 
lage sites; several collectors in the field during the summer. Pub- 
lications, Reports of society. Receive 50 copies of every publication 
of the State for exchange. 

Historical and Philosophiccd Society of Ohio, Cincinnati, Ohio. — 
Organized February 11, 1831. Private corporation; life membership 
fee, $100; annual, $10. Business meetings monthly and one annual 
meeting, none of literary character. Employs salaried librarian; 
owns building, but occupies better quarters near the university. 
Has typewriten card catalogued library of 84,000 books and pam- 
phlets, largely historical. Museum of Indian relics, and portraits 
or view^s relating to local history. Manuscripts of considerable 
value; a few volumes of newspapers, none recent. Condition ex- 
cellent; is confining efforts to lines indicated in charter; takes 
especial pride in original manuscripts relating to Sjanmes Purchase 
and settlement of Ohio. Bibliography of publications in Annual 
Report American Historical Association for 1895, pp. 1052-1055. 
Published Transactions, 2 volumes (1838-39) ; Hildreth's Memoirs of 



^96 AMEEICAlSr HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Pioneer Settlers of Ohio (1853) ; Journal and Letters of Col. John 
May (1873) ; Diary of David Zeisherger translated from German 
manuscrij)t (1886) ; A7inual Beports (1874-1906). 

Ohio State Archaeological and Ilistorical Society^ Cohmilms, 
Ohio. — Organized March 13, 1885, as private corporation, but now a 
semi-official institution, six trustees being appointed by the governor, 
and appropriations granted at the pleasure of the legislature. Mem- 
bership fees: Life, $25 (devoted to a permanent publication fund 
which now aggregates over $4,200); annual, $3; corresponding 
members render some service. One annual meeting; occupies quar- 
ters at the State university ; amount of State aid varies from $7,000 
to $8,000 annuallj?-. Salaried staff consists of secretary, treasurer, 
curator, and assistant. Library of more than 5,000 books pertaining 
to Ohio and the Northwest; catalogue unfinished at time of report. 
Museum of about 70,000 pieces — archaeological, historical, antiquarian, 
etc. ; few manuscripts or newspapers. Summer explorations of pre- 
historic mounds regularly conducted; public lectures offered in 
archaeology and Ohio history. Issued: Ohio State Ai'chmological 
and Historical Quarterly., 14 volumes; Ohio Centennial Anniversary 
(1903) ; Archmological History of Ohio (1902) ; History of George 
Rogers Clark'' s Conquest., by C. W. Butterfield (1904). Prospects 
bright. 

Oklahoma Historical Society^ Oklahojna City., Okla. — Organized 
May 27, 1893, by the Oklahoma Press Association; chartered under 
sjoecial Territorial law of January 21, 1895. Trustee of the Terri- 
tory. Support, annual Territorial appropriation, $2,000; mem- 
bership fees : Annual, $1 ; life, $10 ; membership consisting of active, 
life, honorary, corresponding; editors who contribute their papers 
are members. Meetings, one annual. Salaried staff, custodian, 
$1,000. Provided with a room in Carnegie Library. Library, mis- 
cellaneous, historical. Newspapers, about 1,400 bound volumes from 
Oklahoma and surrounding States. Museum, photographs, relics 
relative to local history. Publications, three biennial Reports, 
Object of society, " To collect, embody, arrange, and preserve books, 
pamphlets, maps, charts, manuscripts, papers, paintings, statuary, 
and other material relating to the history of Oklahoma in j^articular 
and the country in general." 

Oregon Historical Society., Portland., Oreg. — Established Decem- 
ber 17, 1898. Incorporated for educational purposes, 1898; collec- 
tions " held in perpetual trust for the i3eople of the State of Ore- 
gon." Support : Membeship fees : Annual, $2 ; life, $25 ; total, 
$1,650 ; State appropriation, $7,500 for 1905-6. Membership : Life, 
annual, honorary; present number, 800. Meetings, annual, for busi- 
ness and the reading of historical papers. Salaried staff : Secretary, 



KEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL tllSTOEICAL SOCIETIES. 297 

$400, as editor of Quarterly; assistant secretary, $1,500; assistant, 
$600. Housed in the city hall in five rooms. Expenditures per 
annum: Museum, $112.35; library, $441.75; salaries, $2,500; bind- 
ing, $164.34 ; printing, $704.86 ; express and postage, $238.25 ; travel- 
ing expenses, $113.70. Library on local history, 6,695 titles, not 
catalogued. Museum of pioneer relics, 831 ; archaeological, 490 ; pho- 
tographs of pioneers, 1,556; other pictures, 1,047; Indian portraits, 
28 ; portraits on walls, 296 ; J^news of historical places, 229. Manu- 
scripts : Letters, 3,486 ; diaries, 180. Newspapers : One hundred and 
thirty-eight bound volumes; 33,761 unbound numbers of dailies, 
weeklies, and monthlies; 158 i^apers received. Encourages the writ- 
ing of papers for the Quarterly. Publications : Oregon Historical 
Quarterly., five volumes; Proceedings (not published for last three 
years) ; scojdc of publications is Oregon history. Lispired the com- 
memoration of centenary of the Lewis and Clark exploration. 

Historical Society of Pennsylvania^ Philadelphia., Pa. — Organized, 
1822; income, from fees of 1,600 members, gifts, and endowments. 
Owns fire]3roof building costing $300,000. Regular meetings, four; 
extra when desired. Library, especially strong in American his- 
tory, 90,000 books, 225,000 pamphlets, 2,500 volumes of local news- 
papers, many on colonial period ; museum and art collections. Man- 
uscript collection, 5,000 volumes, very extensive and valuable, includ- 
ing Penn Papers 150 volumes; Shippen Papers, 100 volumes; Dreer 
collection, 100 volumes ; Journals of British Lords of Plantation and 
Trade, 180 volumes; Poinsett, S. P. Chase, Yeates, Norris, Wilson, 
McKean, Logan, Franklin, Wayne, Biddle, Lafayette papers, etc. ; 
400 manuscripts; 3,500 printed volumes of genealogy. Collections 
and Bulletins, 1 volume each, issued 1851-55, Pennsylvania Magazine 
of History and Biogrcifhy., 30 volumes; Memoirs., 15 A'^olumes, com- 
prising, among other valuable material, Sargent's monograph on 
BraddocWs Expedition; Major Denny'' s Journal; Minnies of the 
Committee of Defense., 1814-15 ; Penn - Logan Correspondence; 
Heckewelder's Indian Nations; Life and Times of John Dickenson. 

The Pennsylvania Federation of Llistorical Societies:— OvgdiTiizQA 
at Harrisburg January 5, 1905. Its purpose is as follows: "(1) To 
organize historical activity in every part of the State and to foster 
it, and to foster that already organized; (2) to act as a federation 
bibliographer for its component societies; (3) at regular intervals, 
or periods, to bulletin the publications of its component societies 
and to conduct an exchange of said bulletins." Will meet annually 
in Harrisburg the first Thursday in January. Historical societies 
may become members, paying $1 annually ; there are now 24 such 
members. It is hoped to effect sales or exchanges between the socie- 
ties of " duplicates of rare imprints, books, or manuscripts," as well 
as to complete the proposed State bibliography, A still wider scope 



298 AMEKICAN HISTOKICAL ASSOCIATIOlSr. 

of activity is in prospect. The secretary is Dr. Samuel P. Heilmann, 
Heilmannclale, Lebanon County. 

Pennsylvania-Ger'man Society^ Lel)anon^ Pa. — Organized April 15, 
1891. Not incorporated; members in various parts of United States 
and foreign lands. Membership fees : Life, $50 ; annual, $3. An- 
nual income about $1,G00; no permanent headquarters. "Annual 
meeting" in October. Maintains no library; has no museum. Pub- 
lishes results of investigations in Narrative and Critical Tlistory of 
Pennsylnania., 15 volumes. Condition excellent. 

Pennsylnania History Club, PhUadelpIria, Pfl.— Organized 1005 as 
an adjunct .of the Pennsylvania Historical Society. Composed of 42 
men and women who are engaged in writing Pennsylvania his- 
tory and for the most j)art members of the State society. " The 
members are arranged, according to predeliction, on the three stand- 
ing committees on Pennsylvania history (general; social, religious, 
and economic; and political and constitutional) and their subdivi- 
sions. Reports are to be made from time to time on the various 
aspects of Pennsylvania history." There are five or six stated meet- 
ings each winter, with summer pilgrimages to places of historic 
interest. The object is to supplement the work of existing historical 
organizations. 

Rhode Island Historical Society^ Providence., R. /.^-Organized, 
1822; private corporation, receiving annually $1,500 from State. 
Membership fees : Life, $50 ; annual, $3 ; initiation, $5. Holds quar- 
terly meetings ; has library staff of 4 salaried officers and 2 assistants. 
Building erected 1844; additions in 1892; total cost, $20,000. Cat- 
alogued library chiefly on State history, American local history, and 
genealogy — 20,000 books and 40,000 pamphlets. Has museum and 
portrait gallery; 2,000 volumes of manuscripts; nearly complete files 
of all Rhode Island newspapers from first issues to date. Offers a 
series of public lectures every winter. Publishes Anmicd Proceedings 
and Collections. Financial condition indicated by endowment fund 
of $32,000 and miscellaneous fund of $12,000. 

Soldiers'' and Sailors'^' Historical Society of Rhode Island., Proin- 
dence., R. I. — Organized in March, 1875 ; private corporation. Sus- 
tained by annual fees of members. Meetings not fixed, but average 
three each year; at each a paper is read. Membership being limited 
to veterans of the war of 1861-1865, the society can not exist many 
years more; its library and cabinet were given to the Providence 
Public Library; the papers read at its meetings have been printed 
and sold. 

Huguenot Society of South Carolina., Charleston., S. C . — Organized 
in 1885. Not incorporated. Membership fee, $1. About $225 rep- 
resents the total expenditures of the society. Two meetings are held 
a year, at which the general business of the society is attended to, 



EEPOET ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTOKICAL SOCIETIES. 299 

members elected, papers read, and addresses delivered. The society 
has a few volumes of history relative to the Huguenots ; several 
pamphlets on local history and a few publications received from 
other societies. The society has published 12 volumes of Trans- 
actions. 

South Carolina Historical Society., Charleston, S. C. — Founded 
June 2, 1855. Private corporation composed of members from the 
State and elsewhere. Supported entirely by membership fees and 
sales of publications. Annual membership dues, $3. Income from 
all sources, $900. Purely business meetings are held May 19 each 
year. The society pays $300 to one person, who fills three offices — 
secretary, treasurer, and librarian. Society's publications are edited 
by A. S. Salley, jr., secretary of the South Carolina Historical Com- 
mission. The society rents a room for $60 per annum. A library 
is maintained, founded by exchanges and gifts, now comprising about 
3,000 volumes. Has a few historical relics. An exceedingly valu- 
able collection of manuscripts, containing the public papers of Hon. 
Henry Laurens and the diplomatic papers of Gen. Thomas Pinck- 
ney. The object of the society is to i^rint and properly index South 
Carolina records. Publishes a quarterly magazine ; also occasional 
pamphlets — very little original work, only records printed. 

State Histoi'ical Society of South Dakota^ Pierre., S. Dak. — Estab- 
lished" January 23, 1901. Trustee of State; organized under special 
charter granted by the legislature. Administrator of department of 
history of the State. Support, from membership fees; annual dues, 
$2; life membership, $10; State appropriation, $3,520. Membership 
comprises annual, life, corresponding, and honorary. Historical so- 
cieties in State may become corresponding members. Meetings held 
biennially for business and addresses. Salaried staff: Secretary (ex- 
officio State librarian), $1,400; curator and stenographer, $960. 
Expenditures: Salaries, $2,360; stationery and postage, $159.44; in- 
cidentals, $33.05; museum, $29.01; library, $154.93; gallery, $52.31; 
furniture and fixtures, $323.25 ; railway fares, $7.58 ; hotel bills, 
$36.75. Housed in State capitol, seven rooms. Library, historical; 
State library, July 1, 1905, in custody of department of history. 
Museum comprised of antiquities of State — relics of Arikara and 
Sioux Indians, photographs, manuscripts, some private letters and 
papers. Newspapers of State preserved, some indexed. Research 
work chiefly, confined to the Sioux and Arikara Indians. The secre- 
tary responds to calls for lectures and addresses upon historical sub- 
jects ; delivered 54 public addresses during last biennial period. Pub- 
lications: Annual Review of the Progress of the State; Collections., 
biennially (2 vols.). Aims to cultivate State pride; serves as bureau 
of information; is permanent bureau for the census and vital 
statistics. 



300 AMERICAN PIISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

Tennessee Historical Society^ Nashville^ Tenn. — Organized 1840 ; 
l^rivate corjDoration. Membership fees, $5 for first j'^ear, and $3 
thereafter for active members. Endowment fund, $3,000. Annual 
income from all sources, $300. Hold nine meetings a year. No sal- 
aried officer. No building of its own. Total expenditures a year, 
$300. Maintains a library of historical books and works relating to 
Tennessee, comprising about 6,000 titles with card catalogue. Mu- 
seum is large and collection very valuable. About 100 oil portraits 
and many engravings. Many valuable manuscripts pertaining to 
State and nation. Large collection of old newspapers. Has no pub- 
lication. Effort is being made to get the legislature to build a hall of 
records in which society Avill find a home and the archives of the State 
will be filed. 

The Texas State Historical Association^ Austin^ Tex. — Organized 
March 2, 1892. Private corporation. Main source of support from 
membership dues; also sale of publications. Has had about $500 
donated. From the amount received has saved $800 to be used as an 
endowment fund. Its present annual income from all sources is 
$1,000. Membership dues: Life, $30, or gifts of manuscrij)ts to that 
value; annual, $2. Meets annually. No salaried staff. Quarters in 
the State University building; rooms occupied by university offi- 
cials who are officers of the society. Expenditures about $875 — $700 
for printing, $100 for stamps, $75 for stationery, etc. A library is 
maintained, in which are kept material pertaining to southern his- 
tory, and exchanges for the Quarterly. The collection is to be 
catalogued as part of the university library. Only a few historical 
relics. The manuscripts consist principally of letters of prominent 
actors in Texas history. ' The principal publication is the Texas His- 
torical Quarterly. Condition is quite hopeful, with a fair prospect 
of enlarged activity, 

Vermont Antiquarian Society, Burlington., Vt. — Organized August 
13, 1897. Private corporation. MembershijD fees: Life, $25; an- 
nual, $3. Holds quarterly meetings, at which historical papers are 
presented. Library and relics uncatalogued. Has issued Proceed- 
ings and Pajyers, No. 1. 

Virginia Historiccd Society., Richmond., Va. — Organized December 
29, 1831, chartered March 10, 1834. Private corporation. Endow- 
ment fund $4,600, accumulated entirely from dues and sales of publi- 
cations, except $100 from Daughters of American Revolution. The 
last report showed annual income to be $4,289.81. Life membership 
dues, $50; annual, $5. A committee of the society holds monthly 
meetings; the society, annual. There is a salaried staff, but salaries 
not specified. The society owns its building, a three-story and base- 
ment brick. Total expenditures, as shown by last report, $3,763.14. 
The library contains historical and miscellaneous collections, esti- 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTOEICAL SOCIETIES. 301 

mated at 10,400 titles. Card system used. The museum contains 
portraits, views, manuscripts, relics, etc. There are a number of 
newspapers and several volumes of colonial period. The society 
issues The Virginia Magazine of History and Biografliy ^ also Reports 
of annual meetings. The aim of the society is to collect, preserve, 
and render easily accessible to investigators everything that may help 
to illustrate Virginia history. 

Washington State Historical /Society, Tacoma, Wash. — Founded 
October 8, 1891. Incorporated October 8, 1896. State institution. 
Suj^port, one State appropriation of $1,000; membership fees, $2 
annually; life members, $25. Membership: Annual, life, correspond- 
ing, honorary. Meetings, annual, with public addresses. Housed 
in city hall, one room. No library. No museum. Small collection 
of manuscripts. About 120 newspapers of the State received. Pub- 
lications, a Quarterly^ of which two volumes were published in 1901-2. 
Reorganizing in 1906, and reported to be " taking on new life." 

W ashington University State Historical Society, Seattle, Wash. — • 
Incori^orated January 1, 1903. Support, membership fees, active $2, 
life $25. Membership, active and life. No salaried officers. Housed 
by the State University of Washington. Annual expenditure, about 
$500. Meetings, four each year. Library, consisting of local, North- 
western, and Alaskan history. The society has erected several monu- 
inents commemorative of historical events. 

Wisconsin Archaeological Society, Milwaukee, Wis. — Organized in 
1899, reorganized and incorporated in 1903, " for the purpose of secur- 
ing the preservation and encouraging the study of Wisconsin antiqui- 
ties." Is awakening an interest in their educational and other values, 
securing the preservation of Wisconsin mounds and sites, conducting 
surveys and researches, establishing a bureau of record where manu- 
scripts, maps, and other matter relating to the archaeological history 
of the State is preserved ; encouraging the assembling of collections 
in the educational institutions of the State; providing for the dis- 
tribution of its publications to these; discouraging commercialism 
and the manufacture and sale of fraudulent antiquities, and advo- 
cating the establishment of a chair of American archeology at the 
University of Wisconsin and courses in archaeology at other State 
colleges. Co-operates wdth the educational and historical institutions 
and societies of the State; has a present membership of 500, about 
150 of these members 230ssessing collections, these including some 
of the richest private cabinets in the State. Life membership, $25 ; 
annual, $1. Present annual income, about $1,000. Monthly public 
meetings are held for presentation of paj^ers and the making of 
exhibits, also occasional informal students' meetings. The Wisconsin 
Archaeologist, quarterly, is now published under State auspices. Four 
volumes have been issued. Occasional research papers may soon be 



302 AMERICAlSr HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

issued. Has a small working library, and a traveling librarj?^ to 
be circulated by the Wisconsin Free Library Commission is being 
assembled. Has no present intention of organizing an archaeological 
museum of its own, such collections as it receives and possesses being 
deposited in various State institutions, with a view to encouraging 
them to acquire representative local collections. 

Sitate Historical Society of Wisconsin^ Madison^ Wis. — Organized,' 
1849; reorganized, 1853; trustee of the State, holding all property 
in trust for the State, but with privilege of selling or exchanging 
duplicates; the governor, secretary of state, and State treasurer are 
exofficio members of the executive committee. The societj'^'s income 
is derived principally from State appropriations, which aggregate 
about $32,000 annually — $20,000 direct, and the balance indirect; in 
addition to this income, it receives dues from its 500 members ($2 
annual, $20 life) and occasional gifts and bequests. Its endowment 
funds (the product of membership fees, gifts, and sale of duplicates) 
aggregate some $53,000, the income of which is used to eke out State 
approjoriations, which are insufficient for the growing work of the 
society. Meetings are held annually in October at Madison — the 
afternoon being devoted to a business session and the evening to the 
presentation of historical paj)ers; occasional field meetings are held 
in other cities of the State to awaken local interest. There are about 
35 emj)loyees, of whom 20 are on the library staff, the others being 
care takers; the aggregate pay roll is about $20,000. The society 
occupies its own building, erected by the State, at a cost of $610,000. 
Under its roof are also housed the libraries of the University of Wis- 
consin (140,000 titles), and the A¥isconsin Academy of Science, Arts, 
and Letters (5,000 titles). The society's present total expenditures 
for all purposes aggregate about $34,000, of which about $20,000 is 
for salaries, $5,000 for books, $5,000 for printing and binding, and 
$4,000 for miscellaneous purposes. The society's library, which is in 
effect the miscellaneous State library, contains 280,000 titles (books 
and pamphlets) . It is probably the most important reference library 
west of the Alleghenies. While aiming to be a general collection for 
scholars, it is strongest in the fields of Americana, English history, 
political science, economics, geograj)hy, cartography, newspaper files, 
and American genealogy, and includes a large collection of Shake- 
speariana. It is resorted to by scholars and special investigators from 
all parts of the West and South, and its reading rooms are daily 
thronged by professors and students of the State University of Wis- 
consin, to whom the collections are freely accessible. The library is 
classified on a modification of the Cutter expansive system, and is 
thoroughly catalogued on typewritten cards. A large museum is 
maintained, occupying the fourth story of the building. There is a 
large collection of western (especially Wisconsin) historical jjor- 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 303 

traiture in oils, a general art collection (including many Piranesi 
etchings, Arundel prints, Japanese color prints, and historical can- 
vases), and considerable disjjlays of colonial relics and western arch- 
aeological specimens. The manuscripts are very extensive, the chief 
collections being the Draper Manuscrij^ts (400 folio volumes), Wis- 
consin fur-trade papers (200 volumes), Kemper papers, and Phillips 
Manuscri]ots (English) ; all, save the last named, relate chieflj'- to the 
Middle West during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. News- 
paper files are preserved and bound, the collection (chiefly American) , 
now numbering some 15,000 volumes, being next in extent and impor- 
tance to that of the Library of Congress. The society is not as yet the 
official custodian of the State archives, but some of the early census 
reports are stored in its library. The society co-operates with the 
history department of the University of Wisconsin and advises 
advanced students in research work, occasionallj^ publishing the 
results. It also stimulates its own members to research, the results 
being presented in papers read at annual or field meetings. No 
archaeological field work is done, this being now performed by the 
Wisconsin Archaeological Society; but several archaeological papers 
have been published in the past. The society's publications consist 
chiefly of Wisconsin Historical Collections (biennial, of which IT 
volumes have been jDublished), Class Lists (occasional), Portrait Gal- 
lery Catalogue (triennial). Annual Reports^ Bulletins of Informa- 
tion (occasional, some 30 having thus far appeared), and special 
occasional publications. The best account of the society and its his- 
tory may be found in its Memorial Volufne (1901). The present 
condition and prospects were never better ; within the past year there 
has been a large increase of membership, the present number being 
GOO. 

Local Societies. 

ALABAMA. 

Iherville Historical Society, Mobile, Ala. — Organized October 19, 
j 1901. Private corporation. Has about 18 members. Not less than 
i ten meetings annually. The amount expended varies from $20 to 
;' $100. Papers are usually read and discussed. The library contains 
about 300 volumes, kept in the Y. M. C. A. building, catalogued 
\ under Dewey classification. The collection is especially rich in 
; Mobile history. 

' Old St. Stephens Historical Society, St. Stephens, Ala. — Organ- 
ized January 19, 1899. Private corporation entirely. Onlj^ source 
of support, membership fees. Provision for membership, annual 
only. Holds meetings annually. Has no salaried staff, no building 
of its own, no library, no museum or art collection, no manuscript 
collections. Collects and preserves Washington County (Ala.) 



304 AMERICAN" HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

papers. The publications of the society consist of circulars and 
occasional broadsides and contributions of members to local papers. 
Reports annually to the Alabama Department of Archives and His- 
tory. Its work has not been commensurate with its opportunities, 
but its leaders promise greater activity in the future. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Historical Society of Southern. California^ Los Angeles^ Gal. — 
Established November 1, 1883. Private corporation. Support: 
Membership fees, admission $2; annual dues, $3; life, $100. Mem- 
bership : Annual, life, corresponding, honorary ; 50 members. Pres- 
ent income, $200. Meetings are held monthly at residences of mem- 
bers; reading of papers, music, and discussions. Free use of rooms 
in county court-house. No salaries paid. Expenditures: Publica- 
tions, $150 ; postage, express, books, etc., $50. Library of 5,000 titles, 
local history, pamphlets, and newspapers; j^artially catalogued and 
numbered. Nearly continuous files of Los Angeles newspapers since 
1854; files of seven southern counties. Small collection of historical 
relics, pictures, photographs, etc. Manuscripts of Spanish, Mexican, 
and early American Period. Publications: Six volumes, containing 
the Sutro collection of original documents on early California his- 
tory, found in Seville. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Bridgeport Scientific and Historical Society., Bridgeport., Conn. — 
Organized June, 1899. Annual dues, $5. Owns building valued 
at $125,000, the gift of P. T. Barnum. Library of about 1,500 vol- 
umes, uncatalogued ; collections of local newspapers and Govern- 
ment documents. The historical section has been embarrassed in 
its work by lack of money ; this is now being remedied. 

Middlesex County Historical Society^ Middletoion^ Conn. — Incor- 
porated 1901 ; present membership 108 ; annual dues, $2 ; annual 
income $400 to $450, derived from the. interest on endowment fund of 
$6,000 and membership dues. Monthlj'^ meetings are held from Octo- 
ber to June, at which papers are read on some historical subject. The 
society has the nucleus of a library and a number of articles suitable 
for a museum, but has yet no permanent home, occupies rented 
quarters. The main object of the society is to perpetuate the mem- 
ories of the past and to collect and preserve historical relics. Publi- 
cations have so far been limited to an annual pamphlet containing 
the reports of the president, secretary, and treasurer. 

New Haven Colony Historical Society., New Haven., Conn. — Pri- 
vate corporation of 400 members. Average annual income $2,500. 
Historical papers usually presented at eight meetings during the 



REPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 305 

year. Library of 7,000 books and 7,000 pamphlets, especially useful 
for study of local history and genealogy. Card catalogue in use, but 
manuscripts and other documents remain uncataloguecl. Has pub- 
lished G volumes: Pajyers, 1865-1900; Reports. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

Association of the Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columhia.— 
Organized December 7, 1865. Private corporation. Membership 
fees only source of support. Monthly meetings are held. No sal- 
aried staff. Apartments in the Corcoran Building, a bequest of its 
former owner. Has a small library and some valuable manuscripts, 
relating ^principally to the District of Columbia. In a very flourish- 
ing condition. No pub'iiTitions are issued. 

Columhia Historical Society^ Washington.^ D. C. — Organized 1894. 
Private corporation. Annual membership fee, $5 ; 277 members. 
Seven meetings annually, mainly devoted to the District of Columbia. 
One thousand volumes and as many pamphlets in library; a few man- 
uscripts, maps, and engravings. The society is arranging the early 
city records; possesses materials for the history of local families; has 
published 6 volumes of Proceedings. 

FLORIDA. 

St. Augustine Institute of Science and Historiccd Society., St. 
Augustine., Fla. — Founded in 1884. Private corporation. Member- 
ship fees : Life, $25 ; annual, $1. Meetings are held once a month. 
Only salaried officer, curator of museum, who receives $4 per week. 
Has a building of five rooms for museum, and room for meeting and 
library in Free Library building. Library is mainly along historical 
and scientific lines; about 300 books and pamphlets. Present pros- 
pects are good. 

ILLINOIS. 

Chamjmign County Historical Society., Urhana., III. — Incorporated, 
1899. Income derived from '' voluntary gifts." Annual meetings, 
with " written papers and volunteer remarks." Society is " not very 
aggressive or vigorous, for want of general interest." 

Chicago Historical Society., Chicago., III. — Organized, 1855. Mem- 
bership fees: Life, $500; annual, $25. Endowment, about $96,000; 
owns building worth $185,000. Monthly meetings from October to 
May, devoted chiefly to local history. Salaried staff; catalogued 
library of 100,000 volumes on local history; manuscripts, including 
the Madison, Polk and Wilkinson Papers, and many documents relat- 
ing to the French occupation of Illinois ; good files of Chicago news- 
papers. Museum of local relics, portraits, statues, etc. Issues Reports 

H. Doc. 923, 59-1 20 



306 AMERICAISr HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION".' 

of annual, quarterly, and special meetings (1863-1906), including 
addresses and papers delivered at these meetings; Collections^ four 
volumes, embracing Flower's History of the English. Settlement in 
Edwards County, III.; Reid, Biographical Sl'ctch of Enoch Long; 
Ninian Edwards'^s Paj^ers; Mason's Early Chicago and Illinois. 

Evanston Historical Society, Evanston, III. — Organized, 181)8. 
Membership fees: life, $25; annual, $1. Two or three meetings a 
year of popular character. Library of 250 volumes, sheltered in 
public library. Annual Reports at intervals; lectures appear in the 
Bulletin. 

Historical Society of Quincy, III. — Incorporated in 1896. Present 
annual income, $100, wholly from membership fees (life, $10; annual 
$1). Meetings three times yearly, chiefly routine. Housed gratis in 
Chamber of Commerce building. No library, but its small collection 
of relics is quartered in public library building; a few manuscripts 
of local interest have been collected. Publications : History of Adams 
County, III.; History of Quincy. 

McLean County Historical Society, Blooniington, III. — Organized 
1892, incorporated 1899 ; 100 members ; ' county furnishes room in 
court-house, and purchases publications for school use. Has library 
of 300 volumes. Museum of several hundred objects. Transactions 
McLean County Historical Society, 3 voliunes. 

Pioneer Association of Will County, Joliet, III. — About 600 mem- 
bers; annual meeting in September. Society does not collect his- 
torical material. 

Whiteside County Historical Society, Sterling, III. — Organized 
in January, 1903 ; a private corporation seeking a charter from State. 
Is a new society, having room in city hall ; library of 500 volumes 
with autographs and manuscripts; museum of local and general 
curios. Files of current newspapers. Holds occasional meetings. 
Good local interest. 

INDIANA. 

liannilton County Historical Society, Nohlesville, Ind. — Organized 
in September, 1900. Annual fee, 25 cents. Interest waning tempo- 
rarily; tendency to become wholly a social organization. No histori- 
cal material beyond a few relics. 

Northern Indiana: Historical Society, South Bend, Ind. — Eight 
meetings annually, characterized by reading and discussion of papers. 
Library without card catalogue; number of titles, 7,419. Collections 
of historical, scientific, State, and municii3al publications; also of 
United States documents. Issued by society: Puhlications and 
Papers. 

Old Settlers and Historical Association of LaJce County, Crown 
Point, Ind. — Organized July 24, 1875, Membership fees small. An- 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 307 

niial meeting in August, of a social and literary character. Small 
museum illustrating pioneer life and natural history. Has published 
Semicentennial History^ 18-14; also 21 annual Reports. Attendance 
and interest good; room promised for museum. 

Wayne County Historical Society, Eichmoncl, Ind. — Organized, 
1882; reorganized, 1901. Annual membership only. Holds quar- 
terly meetings of business and literary character. Occupies rooms 
in county court-house. Has small library, listed but not catalogued ; 
small museum illustrating pioneer life; some files local newspapers. 
Conducts field work in geology and archaeology. Publishes selected 
papers in annual pamphlets. Condition good. 

IOWA. 

Decatur County Historical Society, Lamoni, Iowa. — Organized 
September 14, 1901. Constitution and bj^-laws adopted. Library, 
about 200 volumes. Efforts are made to collect biographical sketches 
and other data relative to early local history. 

Historical Society of Linn County, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. — Organ- 
ized March 31, 1904. Constitution and by-laws printed. Purpose — 
to collect and preserve material relative to the history of Linn 
County and of the State of Iowa. Support, membership fees, $2 
annually. Membership, active and honorary. Meetings, annual and 
special ; business and reading of papers. Has a room in the Free 
Public Library building at Cedar Eapids, in which meetings will be 
held and library and collections preserved. Will publish Collections 
and Proceedings; one number of latter issued. 

Lucas County Historical Society, Chariton, loioa. — Organized 
June 10, 1901. The first county historical society in Iowa. Consti- 
tution and by-laws printed. Supported by membership fees; annual, 
50 cents; life, $10. Has a room in the public library building at 
(Chariton. Meetings, annual and special, for business and reading 
!of papers. 

Madison County Hlstoriccd Society, Winterset, Iowa. — Organized 
March 15, 1904. Purpose, to collect and preserve materials relative to 
the history of Madison County. Membership, active and life. 
Meetings, annual and special, for business and reading of papers. 
Papers read before the society are usually published in the local news- 
papers. Library and collection to be housecl in public library build- 
ing. 

KENTUCKY. 

Filson Cluh, Louisville, Ky. — Organized 1884. There are about 
400 paying members. About $1,200 a year expended for printing 
its publications. All other expenses are gratuitously met by the 
president. Nine monthly meetings are held. Papers are generally 



308 AMEEICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

read at the club, but not exclusively confined to historical subjects. 
Each year from the papers read, one is selected for publication. The 
club meets in the library of the president, Col. Reuben T. Durrett. 
which contains about 50,000 volumes. It has no library of its own. 

MAINE. 

Eliot Historical Society^ Eliot^ Me. — Holds monthly meetings. 
Supported hj fees of 50 members and contributions; 2G0 volumes in 
library. Has published 6 volumes of the Quarterly., containing local 
history and proceedings, and several pamphlets. 

York Institute^ Saco^ Me. — Organized January 23, 1867. Private 
corporation. Has customary provisions for membership. Holds 
three or four meetings annuall}^ Owns building encumbered with 
mortgage. Annual budget, about $1,020. Has uncatalogued his- 
torical library estimated at 6,000 titles, including old documents and 
newspaper files. Maintains museum of local history, and portrait 
gallery. Work of the institute seriously delayed by debt, and there- 
fore limited to collecting and storing of material. 

MARYLAND. 

Historical Society of Harford County., Md. — Organized on Sep- 
tember 26, 1885. Membership dues, $2 per annum. Receives occa- 
sional donations. Present annual income between $40 and $50. | 
Members must be residents of Harford County, or formerly resident, , 
prior to 1810. Meetings are held quarterly ; general discussion, and | 
usually the reading of papers on historical subjects. No salaried jj 
staff. No building of its own, but holds meetings in court-house, and 
occupies rooms belonging to the county. Yearly expenditures from 
$10 to $15. Maintains a library, not classified, and has a cabinet of 
interesting relics. Manuscript collection consists of papers read be- 
fore the society and all old historical materials. Occasionally public 
addresses are given. A year book was published in 1899. A history ^ 
of Harford County is in course of publication. '■ 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Bedford Historical Society., Bedford., Mass. — Organized April 12,, 
1893. Life membership fee, $25; annual, $1. Occupies rooms in' 
Public Library. Has books, papers, and articles of local interest, 
notably the flag carried by Bedford minutemen in the battle of Con- 
cord. Holds annual meeting on Patriot's Day, April 19. Has pub- 
lished Flag of the Minutemen. 

Berkshire Historical and Scientific Society., Plttsfield., Mass. — I 
Membership fee, $1. Library consolidated with Berkshire Athe- 1 
nseum. Quarterly meetings devoted to local history. Ten numbers 
of the Collections have appeared. 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 309 

■ Beverly Hhtorieal Society, Beverly^ Mass. — Organized April 15, 
1891. Membership fees: Life, $25; annual, $2. Occupies a colonial 
building received b}^ bequest, valued at $G,000. Diaries of Revolu- 
tionary soldiers, autog-raph collections, and autiques of local interest 
preserved. Publications : Rejyort of the Gouncil, 2 volumes ; Pro- 
medings (189G), 

Bostonian Society, Boston, Mass. — One thousand one hundred 
members. Building leased from the city. Annual expenditures, 
$4,000. Seven monthl}^ meetings during the _vear. Library of 2,000 
volumes and many pamphlets pertaining to local history. The so- 
ciet}^ has also collections of municipal documents, local newspapers, 
and relics. 

BrooMine Historical Society, Brooldine, Mass. — Incorporated 1901. 
Members, 150; eight meetings each year, devoted chiefly to local 
history; has a small library. The society has published 4 Annual 
Reports and 3 other volumes. 

Camhridge Historical Society, Camhridge, Mass. — Incorporated in 
1905. Has about 200 members, tlie constitutional limit ($1 admission, 
$2 annually). Meets in hall in public school, has neither library nor 
museum. Although newly organized there is '' already a waiting list 
and much interest is shown by members among whom are the leading 
citizens of Cambridge. Some early records of the town government 
and of the First Church will probably be published under its direc- 
tion or at its suggestion. We expect to do active and effective work," 
The society conducted on December 21, 190-5, the celebration of the 
two hundred and seventy-fifth anniversar}^ of the founding of Cam- 
bridge. 

Cape Ann Scientific and Literary Association, Gloucester, Mass. — 
Organized, 1875; life membership fee, $25; initiation, $2; annual, 
$1. Owns building worth $12,000. ' Monthly meetings, with oc- 
casional field days. Catalogued library and museum, historical, and 
scientific. Condition excellent ; expects to publish soon. 

Clinton Historical Society, Clinton, Mass. — Organized 189-4; char- 
tered, 1903. Holds quarterly meetings of corporation; monthly 
meetings for historical purposes. Admission fee, $5 ; women, $2 ; 
annual dues, $1. Commodious building recentlj^ completed; endow- 
ment provided. 

Dedham Historical Society, Dedham, Mass. — Membership, 127; 
owns building valued at $15,000. Nine meetings per year. Library 
has card catalogue, 4,000 books, and about 7,000 pamphlets of local 
history and genealogy; many volumes of Norfolk County news- 
papers ; manuscripts in form of diaries and record books. Quai'terly 
publication, the Dedham Historical Register, 13 volumes. 

Essex Institute, Salem, Mass. — Succes^sor (1848) of the Essex His- 
torical Society (1821). Life membership fee, $50; annual, $3; en- 



310 AMERICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

dowment fund, about $200,000; owns building worth $75,000; num- 
ber of members, 690. Conducts two lecture courses; field meetings 
during summer; salaried staff. Library of 400,000 titles, including 
250,000 pamphlets; 3,800 bound volumes of newspapers, especially 
strong for period before 1800. Manuscripts, 700 folio volumes on 
various phases of local history; excellent collection United States 
documents; historical museum and art collection. A special library 
of 2,000 volumes, relating to China and the Chinese, in continental 
languages. Publications : Historical Collections^ Bvlletins, Proceed- 
ings^ Annual Reports, etc. 

Fitclibvrgh Historical Society, Fitchlnirg, Mass. — Organized 1892^ 
sustained by fees, assessments, gifts, and sale of publications, 
Monthly meetings from October to May; library, housed by th 
librarian, consists of 1,000 books and 2,500 pamphlets, onl}^ the 
former of these being catalogued. Manuscripts of churches, court, 
sessions, and societies of the town ; also a small art collection. Pub 
lications: Fitcliburg Town Records, 6 volumes; Proceedings, 3 vol 
umes. The work suffers from lack of facilities. 

Hyde Park Historiccd Society, Hyde Park, Mass. — Organized 
1887; 150 members; life-membership fee, $15; annual, $1. From 
three to six meetings annually. Catalogued library of 2,000 titles 
of general interest. Annual publication, Hyde Park Historical Rec- 
ord. Interest and attendance good. 

Ipswich Historical Society, Ipswich, Mass. — -Organized April 14, 
1890. Membership fees; Life, $50; annual, $2. Occupies ancient 
Whij^ple House. Has library and museum of local history and 
Indian relics. Issues an Annual Report. 

Lexington Historical Society, Boston, Mass. — Owns the Hancoci^- 
Clarke House; holds six meetings annually; possesses collection of 
old books and pamphlets, about 175 in all; incomplete files of news- 
papers. Card catalogue of publications and relics. Manuscripts 
and sermons of Jonas Clarke; other material on local history; has 
published 3 volumes of Proceedings. 

Lowell Historical Society, Lowell, Mass. — Incorporated May 21, 
1902, succeeding Old Residents'' Historical Association. Ts a private 
corporation; life membership fee, $50; annual, $2; corresponding 
and honorary members elected irrespective of residence. Holds four 
regular meetings annually, also special meetings. Owns no build- 
ing, but occupies rooms without charge in city library; has no sala- 
ried staff. Offers public lectures at intervals. Library of 200 books 
and 700 pamphlets of general historical interest, listed but not cata- 
logued ; small museum, a few manuscripts, and several volumes of 
old newspapers. Publication, Contributions. Condition good, but 
society needs building and permanent fund. 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 311 

Maiden Historical Society, Maiden, Mass. — Organized 1887 ; life- 
membership fee, $25 ; annual, $1. Meetings in private houses, eight 
annually. About 150 books in library; offers monthly lectures. 
Work crippled by changing character of population during last 
decade, causing decline in interest and funds. 

Med f eld Historical Society, Medfield, Mass. — Incorporated 1891 ; 
admission fee, $2; annual, $1. Monthly meetings from October to 
June, Avith annual field day. Small library, not wholly accessible; 
collection of antiques and Indian relics, old maps, sermons, and a few 
newspapers; Vital Records of Medfield in 1850; History of Medfleld, 
1650-1850, prepared by a member ; complete copy of cemetery inscrip- 
tions; account of Medfield's two hundred and fiftieth anniversary 
in 1901. Pressing need for suitable room. Members contribute to 
Dedham Hlstoriccd Register. 

Med ford Historical Society, Med ford, Mass. — Organized 1896. 
Membership fees: Life, $25; admission, $3; annual, $1. Owns build- 
ing costing $4,500 ; meets monthly from October to May. Library, 
uncatalogued, 2,000 titles; several collections of papers, relics, and 
antiques of local interest. Historical Register, a quarterly periodical. 
Condition encouraging. 

Methuen Historical Society, Metliuen, Mass. — Organized 1895; 
annual dues, $1 ; occupies an old mansion, rent free. Small library, 
catalogued; collection of antiques; manuscripts of colonial and Revo- 
lutionary periods. Condition excellent. 

Middlesex County Historical Society, Boston, Mass. — Holds 
monthly meetings from October to June, each characterized b}^ read- 
ing of historical paper after business session. Books and pamphlets 
now stored awaiting proper arrangement in suitable quarters. 

Old Colony Historical Society, Taunton, Mass. — Organized 1853. 
Number life members, 295 ; honorary, 28 ; corresponding, 101 ; resi- 
dent, 246 ; total, 670. Has building valued at $15,000. Holds four 
meetings each year, at which historical matters are discussed ; also 
commemorative assemblies on appropriate occasions. Library of 
6,000 titles, local history and genealogy ; early municipal and county 
records; nearly all local newspapers since 1820, with some files of 
Boston papers. Library entirely catalogued. Good manuscript col- 
lection for civil, ecclesiastical, and militarv history of Taunton. 
Seven volumes of Collections issued. 

Old South Historical Society, Boston, Mass. — Organized 1891 ; in- 
corporated 1901. Private corporation, auxiliary to Old South Meet- 
ing House. Terms of membership, competition for Old South prizes; 
life membership, $50; annual, $2. Holds nine monthly meetings, at 
which historical papers or addresses are presented. Rents rooms for 
meetings only; no salaried staff; has neither library nor collections of 



312 " AMEHICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

any sort. Publishes Old South Leafets. The members give, free 
ilhistrated lectures on historical subjects at the public schools, educa- 
tional centers, college settlements, and boys' clubs. 

Peabody Historical Society^ Peahody^ Mass. — Organized August 
15, 1896. Private corporation. Membership fees : Admission, $1 ; 
annual dues, $1. Holds quarterly meetings, one of which is a field 
meeting; also winter course of monthly meetings. Catalogued 
library of 2,000 titles; old files of local newspapers; manuscripts, 
including letters, sermons, autographs, and burial ground inscrip- 
tions. Publishes pamphlets on local history, also postal cards and 
photographs of local views. 

Pommituck Valley MeinoTial Association.^ Deerfield.^ Mass. — Owns 
building and grounds, valued at $35,000. One annual meeting and onej 
field meeting each year. Library of 15,000 volumes, chiefly on local] 
history. Many family manuscripts. History and Proceedings^ four, 
volumes, j)nblished. 

Rehohoth Antiquarian Society., Rehohoth., Mass.- — Organized 1884. 
Private corporation; sustained by fees of members. Annual income 
estimated at $300; owns frame building worth $14,000. Has small 
library, and a museum of antiquarian relics. Has a few ncAvspaper 
files. Condition good. 

Rum.ford Historical Association.^ Woljurn, Mass. — Organized 1877; 
private corporation. Admission fee, $1 ; endowment fund, $2,200. 
Holds annual meetings; occupies an old manse. Has library of per- 
haps 1,500 volumes; uncatalogued, and of general interest. Main- 
tains a small museum; offers occasional public lectures. Condition 
and prospects good,. 

Sharon Historical Society, Shao'on, Mass.- — Incorporated Septem- 
ber 11, 1903. Membership fee, $1. Over 200 members in a town of 
2,000 inhabitants. Holds quarterly meetings in Town Hall. Nine 
historical rambles in 1905. Keeps a scrapbook of local history; 
three volumes bound. Is gathering materials for a library and 
museum. Has issued Annual Publications, Nos. 1 and 2; also ad- 
dress delivered in 1802 by a Revolutionary soldier. 

Shej^ard Historical Society, Canibridge, Mass. — Organized March, 
1889, by " persons who attend the First Church in Cambridge, Con- 
gregational," organized in 1C36. Members pay $1 initiation and 
$1 annual dues. Total annual income, $25 to $50, mostly spent for 
books. Meetings are held in the chapel. The library consists of 
700 books and pamphlets, catalogued in long hand ; the manuscripts 
are chiefly sermons of pastors. Lectures are given three times each 
year on the history of Cambridge, its First Church, and kindred sub- 
jects. The society is a member of the Bay State Historical League. 
A part of its work will hereafter be taken up by the Cambridge 



BEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 313 

Historical Society, "but there is left a limited field, mainly in con- 
nection with the history of the First Church/"' 

Somerville Historical Society^ Somenrille^ Mass. — Organized 1897. 
A private corporation. Sustained by dues and gifts. Membership 
fees: Life, $15; annual, $1. Meetings for reading of historical 
papers, usually ten each winter. Society headquarters in public 
library. Annual expenditures, $250. Uncatalogued library «of 500 
volumes, chiefly on local history; museum of antiques; a few manu- 
scripts; collects all local newspapers. Publications: Historic Leaves^ 
quarterl}^; ^4 History of SoTnerville Journalisin' Souvenir Hcmd- 
hooh of Historic Festival^ 1898. 

Historical^ Natural History^ and Library Society^ South Natick^ 
Mass. — Organized 1870. Annual members' dues, $1. The museum 
of natural history specimens and historical relics is housed gratis 
in a room provided for by the will of Oliver Bacon; the library, 
chiefly United States government documents, is loaned to the Bacon 
Free Library. There are " a lot of old manuscripts," and the local 
papers are kept. "About a dozen people are interested, and attend 
the meetings." 

Topsfeld Historical Society, Topsfield, Mass. — Private corporation,, 
organized December 14, 1894. Meetings held five times a year, at 
which papers are read. Expenditures are $200 per year, for print- 
ing. A small library of historical material has been collected, and 
there is a small historical and general museum. Occasionally public 
lectures are ofi^ered. The society has an endowment fund of $700, 
and anticipates owning an old dwelling house erected in 1686. The 
energies thus far have been devoted to publishing Historical Collec- 
tions, of which 10 annual volumes have been issued. 

Historical Society of Watertown, Watertoion, Mass. — Organized 
1891. Membership fees : Life, $20 ; admission, $2 ; annual, $1. 
Six regular meetings annually, in homes of members. Building fund 
is being raised and some pioneer work accomplished. Three vol- 
innes of town records, including births, marriages, and deaths to 1820 
published ; material for two others ready, of v/hich the fourth will be 
issued in 1906. 

Westhorough Historical Society, Westborotigh, Mass. — Incor- 
porated in 1889 as private corporation. Annual fee, $1. Holds 
six meetings annually of literary and social character. Occupies 
rented quarters. Has library of 1,500 volumes, chiefl}^ in biography 
arid genealogy, catalogued, but not with cards. Maintains small 
museum of household articles, portraits, etc. ; some ecclesiastical 
manuscripts; 80 volumes early newspapers. Publications: Diary 
of E. Parhman; Story of the Cotton Gin; Tin Kitchin. Has dedi- 
cated monuments to Rice brothers and Eli Whitney. Prosperous 
condition. 



314 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 



I 



Worceste?^ Society of Antiquity, Worcester, Mass. — Instituted Jan- 
uary 23, 1875; chartered, 1877; a private corporation. Terms of 
membership : Life, $50 ; active, $3 annually. Historical papers read 
at monthly meetings. Owns brick building and real estate valued at 
$50,000; employs librarian and secretary; expends annually $1,200. 
Library of 55,000 titles, classified, but not catalogued; about 35,000 
pamph'lets. Greatest strength along historical and genealogical 
lines. Museum illustrates Indian, colonial, Revolutionary, and civil 
war epochs; also miscellaneous material, about 6,000 pieces, inclu- 
sive. Good collection of United States documents, but few newspa- 
pers. Has issued 20 volumes of Proceedings. No debts, and $11,000 
invested ; condition best since founding of society. 



MICHIGAN. 



Oakland County Pioneer Society, Pontiac, Mich. — Organized 1874 ; 
unincorporated. No fees; sustained by private donations. Semi- 
annual meetings of a social character. No library; no collections 
beyond accumulation of notices for scrapbooks of local history. 



MISSOURI. 



i! 



Kansas City Historical Society, Kansas City, Mo. — Organized 1896, 
by pioneers residing in Kansas City and vicinity for thirty or 
more years. Monthly meetings in public library, where its records 
and collections are kept. " The object of this association shall be to 
keep a record of the early settlers and of all members of this associa- 
tion; to collect, embody, arrange, and preserve books, pamphlets, 
maps, charts, manuscripts, jDapers, paintings, statuary, and preserve 
and keep photographs of its members and of iho, old landmarks in 
Kansas City and vicinity ; to procure from the early pioneers narra- 
tives of the events relative to its early settlement, overland travel, 
and immigration; to gather all information calculated to faithfully 
exhibit the past and present "progress of Kansas City and vicinity, 
and to take steps to promote the same by lectures and other means, 
and in all appropriate matters to advance the interests and perpetuate 
the memory of those whose sagacity, energy, and enterprise induced 
them to settle in Kansas City and become the founders and builders 
of a great city." 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

Manchester Historic Association, Manchester, N. H. — Organizer!, 
1896 ; life-membership fee, $25 ; annual, $1 ; 300 members. Quarterly 
meetings; library of 200 volumes; complete set city documents. Hasf 
published 4 volumes of Collections and Early Proprietors'' Records. 
Outlook is brifiht. 



REPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 315 



NEW JERSEY, 



Hunterdon County Historical Society, Flemington, N. J. — Organ- 
ized in 1885 ; incorporated in 1898. A private corporation with active 
membership restricted to Hunterdon County. Present membership, 
11, at $1 per 3''ear, the fee furnishing the only income. Annual meet- 
ing at Flemington on second Saturday in January; with summer 
meeting elsewhere, at which papers of local interest are presented. 
No salaries are paid, annual expenditures being but $35 ; The Jersey- 
meii, a local historical paper (" published by the recording secretary 
and librarian as a hobby "), was, until it suspension in spring of 1906, 
sent to each member. Library consists of about 500 titles, principally 
New Jersey history and genealogy; 14 country newspapers are con- 
tributed by publishers for filing, but are as yet unbound and inaccessi- 
ble. A catalogue is planned on the Dewey sj^stem of classification. 
There is neither museum nor art collection, but relics of local interest 
are boxed and stored ; no manuscripts, save a lot of parchment deeds, 
etc., relating to local properties. " The society hopes eventuallv to 
arrange for a building in Flemington, the ground floor to be used for 
the town or township public library, the upper floor for the society. 
Our library is a lending library for members of the society and a 
reference library in connection with the public library of the town." 

A^ew Brunswick Historical Cluh, New Brunswick, N. J. — Organ- 
ized November 18, 1870. Private corj)oration. Membership fee, $1 
initiation and $1 annually. Associate members from New Brunswick 
and vicinity; honorary members from outside of Middlesex and 
Somerset counties, N. J. Holds monthly meetings, a paper on the 
local history of New Brunswick being read and discussed thereat. No 
salaried staff; expenditures are merely for running expenses. Li- 
brary consists of pamphlets and manuscripts of papers read; no mu- 
seum or art collection. Fairly prosperous in point of interest and 
attendance. 

New England, Society of Orange, Orange, N. J. — Organized, 1870. 
Private corporation. Membership fees: L^ie, $50; initiation, $5; 
annual, $5. Holds monthly meetings; does not own building. His- 
torical library, uncataloguecl, 2,000 titles. No museum or manuscript 
collections; files of two local newspapers. Public lectures occasion- 
ally offered on historical toj)ics. 

Passaic County Historical Society, Paterson, N . J . — Organized, 
1877. Private corporation. Moribund for nearl}^ twenty years past. 

Princeton (TV. /.) Historical Association. — Organized in 1900. 
Membership fees are $2 per annum. There is also a guarantee fund, 
10 men subscribing not to exceed $100 per year. A general editor is 
employed on part time. The expenditures in 1905 were $800. Meet- 
ings are held and library deposited in Princeton University library. 



316 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION". 

The society lias issued several special publications: Journal and Let- 
ters of Philij) Vickers Fifhian, 1767-1774, edited by John Roger 
Williams ; Poems of Philip Freneau, edited by Fred Lewis Pattee, in . 
3 volumes. Several others in preparation. " It is, in effect, a pub- 
lishing society in a flourishing condition." 

jSale)n County Historical /Society, Salem, N. J. — Organized No- 
vember 11, 1884. Private corporation. Membership fees: Admis- 
sion, $1 ; annual, $1 ; life, $20. Quarterly meetings, at which histori- 
cal papers are read. Society rents room in colonial house ; expects to 
receive same house as gift. Has small collection deeds and wills, 
pictures, antique furniture, and a few books, with local newspapers 
beginning 1830. Is maintaining existence amidst rural county con- 
ditions. 

Vineland Historical and. Antiquarian Society, Vineland, N. J. — 
Organized 1864; reorganized 1893. Private corporation. Member- 
ship fees: Life, $10; annual, $1. Public meetings for reading of 
jDapers and addresses monthly from October to April. Owns build- 
ing; has reference library of 7,300 volumes and 2,000 pamphlets, 
with card catalogue. Small collection of relics, manuscripts, and 
newspapers pertaining to local history. Has published A7inual Re- 
forts and occasional j:)ieces. Prospects good. 

NEW YORK. 

Alha^iy Institute and Historical and Art Society, Albany, N. T. — 
Membership of 500, who provide for its expenses; owns a building 
worth about $30,000. Library of 8,000 titles relating to Albany 
authors and local history, in charge of a curator; catalogue in book 
form. Manuscripts of J. Fennimore Cooper and others; interest- 
ing collections pertaining to Dutch, colonial, and Indian history. 1 
Publications comprise a catalogue of Albany Authors, and Transac- 
tions covering a century, 

Buffalo Historical Society, Buffalo, N. Y. — Incorporated 1862; 
owns building valued at $200,000, erected during the Pan-American 
Exposition of 1901 ; receives municipal aid of $5,000 per year and 
incidental expenses; small income from other sources. Life member- 
ship fee, $100; annual, $5. Meetings vary in number and character, 
and include free public lectures and entertainments. The library of 
16,000 volumes relates largely to western New York, is catalogued, 
and in charge of a regular staff; open to the public. Custodian of 
the Lord Library, 11,000 volumes. Museum of pioneer and Indian 
life. Manuscripts of Ilolland Land Company, F. A. van der Kemp, 
early presidents, local settlers, soldiers of 1812. early traffic on the 
Great Lakes, etc. Publications in annual volumes. Condition ex- 
cellent. 



EEPOKT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTOEICAL SOCIETIES. 317 

City History Cluh, Neiv York. — Organized 1898. Fees : Founders, 
$100 ; life membersliip, $10 ; contributors, $2 ; annual, 50 cents. Work 
conducted by superintendent, secretary, and teachers, and committees • 
classes meet in fifty settlements, missions, and schools. Publishes 
pamphlets, leaflets, a song, and an historical game — all designed to 
promote interest in local history among children and older persons. 
Has no library. 

Historical Society of Neiohurgh Bay and the Highlands^ Neio- 
hurgh^ N. Y. — Organized 1883. Membership fees : Life, 25 ; an- 
nual, $2; has a small collection of books. Membership, 116; interest 
good ; has published twelve pamphlets. 

Holland Society of New York, New York City. — Organized, 1885 ; 
880 members ; initiation fee, $5 ; annual fee, $5. Occupies rented 
■quarters, and employs assistance for treasurer and secretary. Li- 
brary of genealogical and local interest; manuscripts of church rec- 
ords — use limited to members. Publishes a Year Book. 

Jefferson County Historical Society.^ Waiertoton, N. Y. — Organ- 
ized 1886 ; life-membership fee, $25 ; annual, $2. Occupies room in 
Flower Memorial Library. One annual meeting for business pur- 
poses, literary meetings at call of board. Librarj^ in connection with 
Flower Library; museum of local history. Reorganization recently 
effected; membership increasing. 

Johnstoion Historical Society, Johnstoton, N. Y. — Organized May 
30, 1892. Membership fees: Life, $25; annual, $1. Housed free by 
Board of Trade. Monthly meetings; library of 250 books; small 
museum of local history. Offers occasional public lectures. Has 
printed a Guide to places of historic interest. 

Livingston County Historical Society, Geneseo, N. Y. — Organized, 
1877. Life-membership fee, $10 ; annual, $1. Occupies a log cabin ; 
has no library, but preserves local newspapers; observes centennials 
of campaigns and treaties ; marks historic sites. Publishes an annual 
report and miscellaneous papers. 

Long Island Historical Society, Brooklyn, N. Y. — Membership, 692. 
Holds no meetings. Owns building; annual expenditures, $9,795.29. 
Library of 72,130 volumes, especially strong in local history, geneal- 
ogy, and American biography. Uses card catalogue. Among man- 
uscripts of especial value are 123 letters of George Washington, and 
correspondence of Henry and John Laurens, 1773-1790. Publica- 
tions. 

New York Historical Society, New York. — Founded, 1801; incor- 
porated, 1809 ; incorporation renewed, 1826, 1816. Members : An- 
nual, life, honorary, fellows, patrons. Patrons, elected on a contri- 
bution of $5,000 or gift worth twice the amount; fellows, for a con- 
tribution of $1,000 or gift worth twice the amount; life membership. 



318 AMEEICAN HISTOEICAL, ASSOC! ATIOIST. 

$100; annual, $10; initiation, $20. Sources of income: Endowment 
funds, membership dues. Annual income, 1904, $18,222; expendi- 
tures, $13,822. Members in 1906, 987. Meetings: Annual and 
monthly. Library, card catalogued, of over 100,000 titles, housed 
in recently erected building valued at $400,000. Manuscript col- 
lection large, embracing the papers of Governor Cadwallacler Golden 
and of Generals Gates, Steuben, Stirling, and Duer of the Revolu- 
tionary period. Museum, including art gallery of 890 paintings, 65 
]3ieces of sculpture; also Audubon's original water colors; collections 
of Egyptian and Assyrian antiquities. Publications: GoUections, 
first series, 1811-29, 5 volumes; second series, 4 volumes; third series, 
30 volumes, comprising much valuable historical material, such as 
Clarendon Papers, Charles Lee Papers, Golden Papers, manuscripts 
of Gharles Thomson, journals of Revolutionary officers, Deane Pa- 
pers, muster rolls of New York troops in Continental Army, and 
abstracts of wills (1665-1766) ; Proceedings; Discourses delivered at 
the meetings, 1832-1905. 

Oneida Historical Society^ TJtica^ N. Y. — Total membership, 253; 
owns building valued at $60,000. Meetings held monthly during 
winter season, papers and addresses being presented. Library partly 
catalogued; about 1,500 volumes, chiefly on local history and gene 
alogy ; incomplete files of local newspapers ; 800 manuscrijits of local 
interest. Nine volumes of Transactions issued. 

Onondaga Historical Association^ Syracuse, N. Y. — Organized, 
April 29, 1863. Private corporation. Has recently received legacyj 
of $40,000. Membership : Life, $25 ; annual dues, $2 ; Corres]3onding 
and honorary, for services performed. Monthly meetings include 
consideration of local history. Owns building costing $38,000. 
Library of 2,000 titles, uncatalogued. Museum of history and sci 
ence ; portraits of local interest. A few newspaj^er files, but not con 
tinuous. Offers eight public lectures annually. Has published a 
few leaflets. Financial condition strong and prospects bright. 

Rochester Historical Society, Rochester, N. Y. — Seven meetings 
annually, devoted largely to reading and discussion of historical 
papers. Library of 2,000 volumes on history of State and of the 
Genesee Valley. Collection of local newspapers, but not all files are 
complete. Card catalogue in use. Two volumes of Publications 
issued. 

Schoharie County Historical Society, Schoharie, N. Y. — Incorpo- 
rated, March 4, 1889. Private corporation. Membership fees : Life 
$10; admission, $1; annual, 50 cents. Holds one annual meeting; 
special meetings as called. Occupies " Old Stone Fort," considered, 
fireproof. Collects material illustrating local history, Indian life 
and geology. 



I 



I 



I 



BEPOET ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 319 
NORTH CAKOLINA. 

The Trinity College Historical Society, Di/rham, jV. 6'.— Organ- 
ized in 1892. Private enterprise, not incorporated. Present annual 
income from all sonrces, $40. Membership fees, $1 a year ; occasional 
donations. Monthly literary meetings are held. No salaried staff. 
Owns no building. Places its collections in Trinity College Library. 
The museum contains various articles on civil war and North Caro- 
lina ; a few portraits. A small series of papers published. The 
society is advancing, making a start toAvard its publication fund. 

OHIO. 

Clark County Historical Society^ Springfield^ Ohio. — Contributing 
members, 85; county furnishes building' worth $20,000 and janitor's 
services. Librar}^, 100 volumes ; relics of pioneer life ; has published 
one volume, the Centennial of S2:)ring field, 1901. 

Pioneer and Historical Society of Muskingum County, ZanesiiiUe, 
Ohio. — Organized, 1890; membership fee, 50 cents; assessment, $1; 
rooms proAdded by county commissioners. Society preserves old 
books, newspaj^ers, and relics. Scrapbooks made from reports given 
to newspapers ; membership declining. 

Sandusky C ounty Pioneer and Historical Society , Fremont, Ohio. — 
Organized June 6, 1874. Nominal membership fee, $1. Social meet- 
ing once a year. Owns no building, but relics are stored in city 
library building. Keeps scrapbooks of local history, but has no 
library, and only a fcAV relics. Work hampered by lack of funds. 

Western Reserve Historiccd Society, Cleveland, Ohio. — Organized, 
1867. A private corporation. Terms of membership: Life, $100; 
annual, $5 ; corresponding and honorary, by election. Receives little 
support besides income from dues. Annual meeting in May. Owns 
building costing about $55,000. Employs librarian and janitor. 
Expended in 1904, $1,500. Partially catalogued library of 22,000 
books and 38,000 pamphlets, particularly strong in histories of New 
England, Ohio, Western Reserve, and genealogy ; large collection of 
United States documents; complete files of several Cleveland news- 
papers; files of many Ohio papers (less complete). Maintains mu- 
seum of ethnology and archaeology ; has excellent maps and manu- 
scripts of land companies, travelers, and pioneers of the Reserve. 
Has published four volumes of Tracts; Partial List of Manuscripts, 
Notes, etc.; Histoiy of Brule's Disx'overies. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Bucks County Historical Society, Doylestown, Pa. — Members, 600. 
Three meetings a year — in January, May, and October. Library of 
800 volumes; large number of documents and manuscripts. Two 



320 AMEEICAN HISTOEICAL ASSOCIATION. 

newspaper files running baclv about one hundred years. A museum 
of household, farm, and loom implements formerly in use in the 
United States; also Indian relics. Housed in a new building re- 
cently erected at a cost of $25,000. 

Chester County Historical Society^ West Chester, Pa. — Organized. 
1893. Life membership fee, $15 ; initiation fee, $2 ; annual, $1 ; 
small endowment fund, but no building of its own. Small library 
of local history, catalogued ; custody of early county archives ; mu- 
seum. Occasional publications. 

The City History Society, Philadelphia, Pa. — Organized March 8, 
1900. Membership: Life, $10; annual, $1. Membership in 1906, 
350. Its objects are " to study the city's institutions, to revive its for- 
gotten history, to mark its historic sites, and to foster a spirit of civic 
pride in its citizens." Has organized a series of historic excursions 
during the spring and fall and a series of historic lectures during the 
winter. Among recent papers read are : "' Germantown Thirty Years 
Ago," by William E. Meehan ; " Philadelphia, the City of Homes," 
by Col. A. K. McClure; " The Walking Purchase and Other Indian 
Treaties of Pennsylvania," by Doctor Garber ; " The Lost Towns and 
Villages of Philadelphia," by Miss Mary Prichard ; " William Penn 
as a Law Giver," by Hon. Plampton L. Carson; "Military Opera- 
tions on the Lower Delaware During the Revolution," by C. Henry 
Kain; "Early Philadelphia Fire Protection," by George C. Gilles- 
pie; "Social Science on the Streets of Philadelphia," by Dr. Robert 
Ellis Thompson ; " George Washington in Philadelphia," by Dr. 
Francis B. Brandt, and " Philadelphia Shot Towers," by J. E. B. 
Buckenham. Other and equally important papers are in preparation. 
It has neither hall nor library. 

Delaware County Historical Society, Media, Pa. — Organized, 1895. 
Income less than $100 per annum, from membership ($1 annually). 
Annual meeting in September, with others two or three times a year, 
" with biographical account of some prominent citizen " or local his- 
tory paper. The recording and corresponding secretaries are each 
paid $25 per annum. No library, and but a small, miscellaneous 
museum. Occasional public lectures are given. The society has 
published the first volume of its PrT)ceedings, 1895-1901. 

Fayette County Historical and Genealogical Society, Uniontown, 
Pa. — Organized June 1, 1893. Has a small local library and museum, 
uncatalogued; occupies a room in county court-house. Preserves 
county newspapers. The secretary and librarian are not compen- 
sated. Little interest at present in affairs of society. 

Historical Socieiy of Berks County, Reading, Pa. — Organized 

'August 5, 1869. Membership fees: Life, $50; annual, $1. Owns 

building valued at $3,500. County contributes annually $100 or $200 

for support. Historical papers read at quarterly meetings. Library 



. EBPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 321 

of 475 titles ; small museum of relics ; Reading newspaper files from 
1789 to 1850. Publications issued annually. Financial condition 
prosperous. 

Historical Society of Dauj>hin County^ Harrishurg^ Pa. — Organ- 
ized June 10, 1869. Occupies room in court-house annex; holds 
monthly meetings, excepting July and August; maintains library of 
2,400 titles, partly catalogued, and museum of local history. Vol- 
ume I of Transactions, 1903. 

Historical Society of Yoi-'k County, York, Pa. — Membership, 280; 
eight meetings each year of historical and literary character. Good 
rooms in county court-house. Library, with card catalogue, 3,000 
titles; bound files of county newspapers 1789-1906, complete except 
five years; manuscripts of early church records, muster rolls of the 
Revolution, and autograph letters. Scientific and historical museum, 
2,000 views and portraits. Eight pamphlets published. Condition 
progressive and popular. 

Kittochtinny Historical Society, C luimbershurg , Pa. — ]Membership 
fees : Resident, $2 ; non-resident, $1 ; number of members, 45. Eight 
meetings annually. V\xh\\ca.iio\\s: Kittochtinny Historical Papers, 
4, 1900-1906. Society is accumulating a library. 

Lackawanna Institute of History and Science, Scranton, Pa. — 
Organized, 1886 ; several hundred books and reports stored in Green 
Ridge Library. Proceedings, one volume; five pamphlets on- local 
history published. Conditions " practically inactive." 

Lancaster County Historical Society,- Lancaster, Pa. — Organized 
1896; sustained by annual dues. Monthly meetings; library in 
y. M. C. A. building; about 1,800 works on history and genealogy; 
about 50 manuscripts, and 100 relics. Society publishes Monthly 
Proceedings and Papers. Condition good in every respect. 

Lehanon County Historiccd Society, Lebanon, Pa. — Organized in 
January, 1898. Membership fees: Life, $20; active, $1. Members, 
162. Bimonthly meetings. Library and museum of about 1,500 
pieces, consisting of early newspapers, rare books, maps, and an-' 
tiques. Has published 37 pamphlets on local history, comprised in 
Historical Papers and Addresses, 3 volumes. 

Linn Historiccd Society, of Center County, Belief onte. Pa. — Organ- 
ized in 1903. Private corporation, with a State appropriation of 
$200 annually hereafter, thus making future annual income about 
$300. Life members pay $10 ; annual, $2. Meetings quarterly, with 
papers. Has a small library, as yet uncataloguecl. Society thus far 
without a definite habitation. 

Historical Society of Montgomery County, Norristoion, Pa.— 
Organized, 1881. Membership fees : Life, $25 ; annual, 50 cents. 
Receives county aid of $200 per annum ; owns building worth $5,500. 
H. Doc. 923, 59-1 21 



322 AMERICAlSr HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIOlSr. 

Meetings held quarterly. Library, over 1,000 titles; card catalogria 
in i^rogress; small museum; 80 volumes of Colonial Records and 
Pennsylvania Archives. Society has published 3 volumes of Papers;- 
condition, reported good. 

Numismatic and Antiquarian Society of Philadelphia, Philadel- 
phia, Pa. — Founded January 1, incorporated February 19, 1858, as 
the Numismatic Society; present title adopted March 23, 1865. A 
private corporation. Membership fees : Life, $50 ; annual, $5. 
Holds monthly' meetings, characterized by reading of j^apers and 
exhibition of coins and antiquities. Possesses a collection of books 
pertaining to numismatics and archaeology and a cabinet of coins at 
Memorial Hall, but has no building or salaried staff. Publishes 
Proceedings, which appear biennialh". 

Site and Relic Society of Germantoxmi, Philadelphia. — Organized 
February 25, 1901. Private corporation. Annual membership only ; 
fee, $2. Meetings not fixed, vary with loan exhibits and lectures- 
Occupies historic schoolhouse, and has museum of local history, but 
no library. Good collection of early local imprints. Occasional 
publications. Condition, excellent. 

Snyder County Ilistoriccd Society, Middlehurg, Pa. — Organized in 
1899. ■ Members pay $1 admission and $1 annual dues. Have free 
use of room in court-house, where society has a small partly cata- 
logued library containing " a large amount of local material," includ- 
ing all count}^ papers. There is no museum. Society is not as active 
as formerly, " for the reason that the work fell upon a few of us, who 
are very busy men." 

Susquehanna County Historical Society, Montrose, Pa. — Organ- 
ized 1890. Private corporation, dependent on membership fees — life, 
$10 for males, $5 for females; annual, 50 cents. Yearly meetings. 
No salaried staff. A $20,000 buildiiig is soon to be constructed and 
$30,000 to be spent on a library. Helics, documents, and county news- 
paper files being collected. " Outlook very flattering." 

Washhigton County Historical Society, Washington, Pa. — Organ- 
ized January, 1901, as a private society. At the discretion of the 
county commissioners a $200 annual appropriation may be made, 
but not granted in 1905, in which year the total income was $177. 
There are 216 paying members, the life fee being $50 and the annual 
$1. Judges of the courts are honorary members. There are four 
stated meetings each year, at which are given public addresses or 
papers on historical subjects. The library of 2,500 titles and the 
excellent museum are housed gratis in the county court-house. A 
librarian is hired, at $25 per month. Newsjjaper files and local 
manuscripts are collected, and the library is the repository of such 
county archives as are only of historical value. The society has 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 323 

published The Old Virginia Court House of Augusta Toicn, near 
Washington, Pennsylvania, 1776-77. " We are poor in funds, but 
rich in Avorkers." 

Wyoming Historical and Geological Society, Wilkes-Barre, Pa. — 
Organized 1858 ; private corporation. Membership fees : Life, $100 ; 
annual, $5. Of its 330 members 133 are life members. Endowment 
funds, $25,000; annual income, $2,300; has permanent home in large 
brick building of three stories, free of rent, light, and heat, given by 
founder of Osterbout Free Library. Library of 18,000 volumes, with 
typewritten. card catalogue, devoted to American history, genealogy, 
and geology. Museum of 5,000 coins, 11,000 geological specimens, 
25,000 pieces illustrative of Pennsylvania ethnology and Algonquian 
pottery. Depository for United States and State documents; has 
1,200 volumes of local newspapers and large collection of Wyoming 
manuscripts, especially for period 1760-1820. Publishes annual 
Proceedings. Condition excellent. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 

New England Society, CJiarleston, S. G. — Organized in 1819. Pri- 
vate corporation. Membership fees, $10 per annum ; life membership 
dues, $75. Endowment fund, $20,000. Quarterly and annual meet- 
ings are held. No salaried staff. Society owns no building. Money 
is expended in caring for its members and for the poor. No library 
is maintained. In a flourishing condition and seeks to foster the 
study and knowledge of New England history. 

TENNESSEE. 

Confederate Historiccd Association, Memphis, Tenu - — Founded 
in 1869. Support: Membership dues, $2, and occasional donations. 
Present annual income from all sources, $400. Meetings are held 
once a month. No salaried staff. Rooms are rented at $25 a month. 
The association makes occasional donations to the needy. Library 
consists mostly of Confederate records. Museum principally Con- 
federate relics. Among about 25 per cent of the 210 members inter- 
est is very good. 

Washington County Historical Society, Jonesboro, Tenn. — Organ- 
ized in 1890. Private institution. Limited private subscription, no 
fees. Anyone may become a member who wishes to do so. Meetings 
are held about once a year. No salaried staff. No building, but one 
room in court-house occupied free of charge. No librar}^ is main- 
tained. There are a number of Indian relics and early court records. 
No publication. There is little interest taken except by a few 
persons. 



324 AMERICAN HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION. 

VERMONT. 

Bennington Battle Monument and Historical Society^ Bennington, 
Vt. — Organized 1876. Number of annual members, 300; annual ex- 
penditures, $400; holds semiannual meetings of a general character. 
The task of the societj^ was the erection of the monument. It has no 
library or collections of historical material. 

WISCONSIN. - 

Green Bay Historical Society, Green Bay, ^Wis. — Organized 1899. 
Membership, 114. Incorporated as an auxiliary of the State society.. 
Has a small library and museum housed in public library. Holds 
three meetings annually — two in winter, at which papers are read, 
and an historical pilgrimage in summer. Condition flourishing. 

Manitotooc County Historical Association, Manitowoc, Wis. — Or- 
ganized February 3, 1906. Membership, 19. Auxiliary of State 
society. Will not commence active work until autumn of 1906; out- 
look excellent. 

Old Settlers'^ Cluh of Milwaukee County, Milwaukee, Wis. — Organ- 
ized 1869. Income about $2,000 per year, wholly from membership 
dues ($5). Any American citizen who has lived thirty-five years in 
the State and is"40 years old is eligible. Monthly meetings. Kent 
paid, $600 annually. There is a library of 300 titles, chiefly local, a 
museum of " local bric-a-brac," and a collection of manuscript, 
biographical memoirs. Condition prosperous. 

Parkman Cluh, Milwaukee, Wis. — Organized 1895. Has but nine 
members, who pay the cost of publication of their own papers. Has 
issued 18 monographs in pamphlet form, constituting two volumes. 

Rifon Historical Society, Ripon, Wis. — Organized in 1899. Incor- 
porated under State law as an auxiliary of the State society. Soci- 
et}^ aims to have " about a dozen active men " as members, the fee 
being one dollar annually. There are no stated meetings, members 
getting together whenever there is a paper to be read or other matter 
of interest discussed. Have an alcove promised in the new (Car- 
negie) local public library. Local newspapers are filed, and papers 
read are published in the local press; papers of general interest ap- 
pear in the Proceedings of the State society, which also publish the 
local society's annual report. The collection of materials is progress- 
ing satisfactorily, gifts being acknowledged in local press. Members 
are assigned topics for investigation, each being expected to do his 
share in this regard. " We are doing an unpretentious work, yet wo 
here feel that it is worth while." 

Sauk County ' Historiccd Society, Barahoo, Wis. — Incorporated 
1905 as an auxiliary of State Historical Society. Has 35 members. 



EEPORT ON STATE AND LOCAL HISTORICAL SOCIETIES. 325 

Four meetings are held each year. Library and museum are col- 
lected in room in public library. County newspapers files are as- 
siduously collected. Considerable archaeological work has already 
sen done. 

Superior Historical Society^ Swperior^ l'F^s.— Organized in 1902, 
but interest lagged until reorganization January 10, 1906, as an 
auxiliary of State society. Membership, 68. Housed in public 
library. Prospect very encouraging. 

Walworth County Historical Society^ Elkhorn^ Wis. — Organized 
1904. Membership, 23. An auxiliary of State society. Library 
and museum in public library. Largely occupied in making col- 
lections of printed and manuscript material. 



V9t 



